Evening star., 1936-12-03
$1,725,127 CHEST
FUND IS REPORTED
Final Certified Report Shows
Sum, $32,346 Under
Last Year.

Raising the total of the ninth annual
Community Chest campaign figures to
$l,725,127. the final report submitted
by Councillor g. Buchanan, C. p. A.,
who audited the returns, shows the
drive reached 87.61 per cent of the goal
OF $1.969, 900.
The last report, as of November 80,
Is $243,873 short of the amount expect
ed in the campaign. 1t Is $32.346 less
than the $1,757,473 raised last year.
when the Chest attained $3.50 per cent
OF q smaller goal More gifts still are
being received at Chest headquarters.
Final reports Of the soliciting units
were as follows:
Special Assignments. $50 pledges for
. total of $513, 3,490 or 90.8 per cent of
quota; Governmental, 109, 1893 pledges
totaling s663,352.62 or 9l.5 per cent of
quota: Group Solicitation, 50,366
pledges totaling s364,S % or 81 SO per
cent of quota; Capital, 1.348 pledges
totaling $6,30885 or 1886 per cent Of
quota; Metropolitan. 10,96l pledges
totaling S177,17360 or ia per cent Of
Quota. The average gift was $40.
Misunderstanding Blamed.
Herbert L. Willett, jr., director Of
the Chest, attributed the failure to
reach its goal by such large amount
to "an apparent misunderstanding
among many Washingtonians as to the
status Of the Chest"
TOO many people" Willett said, IRE
gard the Community Chest as just one
more organization seeking funds. They
give accordingly, failing to understand
that the appeal of the Chest is really
IS appeals for tine IS agencies affiliated
with the Chest Washingtonians who
would cheerfully give $40 to one Chest
hospital or one Chest boys club, nom
chalantly hand over that $40 for 65
agencies not realizing that they are
giving about IS cents year to each
agency and are thereby penalizing peo-
pie who need their help.
Believes Washingtonians Generous.
"Washingtonians, find, are usually
generous. They are ready to give some
thing to almost any cause that is pre-
sented They actually invite street
begging by their outpouring Of their
nickels and dimes They would cheer
fully give at least dollar to almost
any one Of the IS welfare agencies in
the Chest were that agency conducting
. separate campaign. That means that
with IS campaigns they would con-
tribute something like s65 In addition
to the giving Of time for IS interviews
during the year instead of one. But the
moment they think of the Chest as a
single agency and forget that it repre-
sents IS separate and distinct pieces Of
work for people who need some sort Of
help 1t is all too easy to make IS or
SO seem Q generous and adequate gift
when 1t really is far less than the share
that the contributor would want to
have in welfare work If he saw the
whole picture as it really is.
Urges "Straight Thinking"
$50 the biggest task ahead of every
will, wants to help people who need
help Is to think straight about what his
Chest gift really means and to help
others with whom he comes In contact
to do equally straight thinking. II he
prefers to be solicited IS times for that
many separate objectives . diminish
ing gift to the Community Chest is the
proper way to bring back an era Of
multiple and competitive appeals. But
II he wants his money to do the most
good with the greatest economy and
efficiency and minimum of time and
effort on his own part it Is essential
that he think of the Chest in its true
light, not as a single welfare agency,
but as the business organization which
makes possible the age-old task of
helping people who need help in the
most up-to-date and efficient manner"