Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-07
$50 Million PhiIonthropists'
Donate Record 81 Billion

campaign with many organiza-
tions sharing In the proceeds.
They say numerous campaigns
are overlapping. a waste of
money and a. nuisance to both
the giver and the volunteer So
licitor.
On the other nand are the
champions Of separate appeals.
They. are spurred by six large
national organizations which
want to raise their funds with
individual campaigns. The six
are the National tuberculosis
Association, the National Foun-
dalton for Infantile Paralysis,
American Red Cross. American
Cancer Society, American Heart
Association, and the National
Society for Crippled Children
and Adults.
One aspect of the tight reaches
a climax this spring when a Fed
eral judge in Cleveland will rule
on case involving the National
tuberculosis Association (NTA)
and the Summit County (Akron
tuberculosis and Health Asso-
citation (SCTHA).
Immediate point of the case
is the question: Does the double
barred cross which appears on
the MIA Christmas seals and
other printed material belong to
it as a private trademark? Or
is it symbol of a worldwide
fight against tuberculosis?
Behind the case lies the rapid
spread of the united fund
method of raising charity money.
All Agencies Invited.
Three years ago Akron was
confronted with this dismal sit
uation: For five years the Com
munity Chest had failed. For
five years nearly all health and
welfare charity drives-eXdypt-
ing Red Cross-had failed.
Akron's leaders, deciding to try
the united fund idea, received
the enthusiastic support of lead
ers Of the city's largest labor
union population. All agencies
were invited into one fold.
The board of SCTHA voted Is
to l to come into the United
Fund. The then constituted
Summit County chapter of the
National Foundation for Infan-
tile Paralysis voted Is to 6 to join
the United Fund.
James Stone, executive secre-
tary of the MIA in New York.
says the Ohio organization of
the MIA revoked it's contract
with the Akron chapter to sell
Christmas seals after United
Fund workers told givers that
if they gave to the fund they
would not have to pay for seals.
The MIA then organized the
Anti tuberculosis League in
Summit County. Akron sources
say 1t sent in team of paid
workers. Mr.. Stone says, I'VE
provided a couple of staff men,
,bers. but the maximum time any
stayed in the community was
three weeks" Meanwhile, the
local began printing its own
Christmas seals-a violation of
law. the national charged.
The National Foundation for
Infantile Paralysis also with
drew its locals charter in Akron.
Then the Akron United Fund
became parent to the Summit
County Polio Society. This local
was allocated $4,000 a year
by the United Fund. The ma
tional association refused to &C
cept any of the amount.
Akron civic leaders say the
United Fund has had distin-
guished success there. Before
United Fund the average indi-
vidual giving in Akron was about !
SO a year to all agencies. Now |
the average is over $40.
Called "Catch-All."
The MIA and all oilers of the
big six'-except the National |
Foundation for Infantile Pa
ralysis-have participated in |
varying degrees in United Fund |
drives. But the March of Dimes
fatty refuses to get into what it |
calls "catch-all' drives.
In Seattle, for example. a /
United Good Neighbor Fund Of /
fered 100000 to the founda- !
ton. 1t was refused. This year |
it offered another 100000 and |
met the same refusal. Now the /
100000 is held in trust.
The National Foundation also .
refused to accept money raised
by Community Chests or united
appeals in Jasper, Ala, Sidney, /
N. Y. and Deposit, NJ Y. /
Joseph Nee, director of fund /
raising for the National Founda-
ton, explains its stand this way:
Were we to go into the United
Fund we'd be one of 100 or $50 !
agencies and we'd lose our iden- /
tity. We're in the business of
taking care of polio, not in the
business of raising money. It's
up to the public to see whether
they want that need fulfilled.
why should we adopt a sec
ond-hand method? We believe
people will support us if we're
doing a good job"
The National Foundation last