ChildFund: Difference between revisions
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In May 2004, CCF became the subject of some contention when Christian charity watchdog group [[Wall Watchers]] sent a "donor alert" via e-mail to about 2,500 subscribers, informing them that the name of the charity -- Christian Children's Fund -- was designed to intentionally mislead its donors into thinking it was a faith-based missionary group.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ministrywatch.org/mw2.1/pdf/MWDA_042704_CCF.pdf |title=The Use of the Word 'Christian' by Christian Children's Fund is Misleading |publisher= ministrywatch.org (a program of Wall Watchers) |month=May | year=2004 |accessdaymonth=19 August | accessyear=2007|format=PDF}}</ref> [[Howard Leonard]], a chief executive of Wall Watchers, was quoted by a magazine as saying, "It isn't Christian in the way we look at it. If you're going to be bringing help to these children, you should be bringing the [[Gospel]]." A spokesperson for the group said that the organization does not proselytize any person to a faith, rather its name is derived from its founder, a [[Presbyterian]] minister who believed in "Christian principles," such as "love thy neighbor as thyself." |
In May 2004, CCF became the subject of some contention when Christian charity watchdog group [[Wall Watchers]] sent a "donor alert" via e-mail to about 2,500 subscribers, informing them that the name of the charity -- Christian Children's Fund -- was designed to intentionally mislead its donors into thinking it was a faith-based missionary group.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ministrywatch.org/mw2.1/pdf/MWDA_042704_CCF.pdf |title=The Use of the Word 'Christian' by Christian Children's Fund is Misleading |publisher= ministrywatch.org (a program of Wall Watchers) |month=May | year=2004 |accessdaymonth=19 August | accessyear=2007|format=PDF}}</ref> [[Howard Leonard]], a chief executive of Wall Watchers, was quoted by a magazine as saying, "It isn't Christian in the way we look at it. If you're going to be bringing help to these children, you should be bringing the [[Gospel]]." A spokesperson for the group said that the organization does not proselytize any person to a faith, rather its name is derived from its founder, a [[Presbyterian]] minister who believed in "Christian principles," such as "love thy neighbor as thyself." |
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In 2008, CCF was reported to have turned down a $17,398 donation from GenCon Live Game Auction, which took place in August at [[ |
In 2008, CCF was reported to have turned down a $17,398 donation from GenCon Live Game Auction, which took place in August at [[Gen Con]], a role-playing and board games convention.<ref name="gamepolitics">{{cite web | url=http://www.gamepolitics.com/2008/11/04/children039s-charity-turns-its-back-gygax-memorial-donation | work=[[GamePolitics.com]] | date=4 November 2008 | accessdaymonth=11 November | accessyea=2008 | title=Children's Charity Turns its Back on Gygax Memorial Donation | last=Eisen | first=Andrew}}</ref><!--article deleted <ref>[http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Christian_Children's_Fund_rejects_GenCon_donation Christian Children's Fund rejects GenCon donation], [[Wikinews]], 2008-11-01</ref>--> The donation was made in honor of [[Gary Gygax]], who passed away in 2008, and who was a frequent donor to CCF.<ref name="legault"/> Some individuals within the gaming community expressed disappointment about the decision; prominent author and game designer [[Rich Burlew]], for example, called it "insulting,"<ref name="burlew1">{{cite web | url=http://www.giantitp.com/index.html#MZvsP18xmNXpVDwvCRQ | last=Burlew | first=Rich | authorlink=Rich Burlew | work=[http://www.giantitp.com Giant in the Playground] | date=31 October 2008 | accessdaymonth=11 November | accessyear=2008 | title=10/31/2008}}</ref> and the response by gamers led both the CCF and Gen Con to issue official statements explaining what had happened.<ref name="burlew2">{{cite web | url=http://www.giantitp.com/index.html#UM7iOEJbez2GVntGYjh | last=Burlew | first=Rich | authorlink=Rich Burlew | work=[http://www.giantitp.com Giant in the Playground] | date=5 November 2008 | accessdaymonth=11 November | accessyear=2008 | title=11/5/2008}}</ref> When questioned, the CCF replied that reasons for the rejection included "the possible misinterpretation of CCF’s role in regard to the event." ... "The information presented to us gave the appearance that CCF (the organization) was an endorser or supporter of the event instead of a beneficiary."<ref>[http://regansravings.blogspot.com/2008/10/reply-from-christian-childrens-fund.html Reply from the Christian Children's Fund over the Gygax Auction], Pulling Weeds out of Potholes (blog), retrieved on 2008-11-03</ref> A later statement issued by a representative of Gen Con explained that Gen Con had contacted CCF before the convention was held in August, and asked permission to use CCF promotional materials, which CCF declined to provide because of Gen Con's association with the role-playing game ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]''; after that, according to the statement, Gen Con chose to support a different charity in 2008.<ref name="legault">{{cite web | url=http://community.gencon.com/forums/t/18786.aspx | last=LeGault | first=Jeannette | title=Gen Con Indy08 Show Charity and CCF | publisher=[[Gen Con]] | date=5 November 2008 | accessdaymonth=11 November | accessyear=2008}}</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 05:28, 11 November 2008
Christian Children's Fund (CCF) is an international child sponsorship group based in Richmond, Virginia, United States, that provides assistance to communities in many developing countries.
CCF was conceived in 1938 by a Presbyterian minister, Dr. J. Calvitt Clarke, to aid Chinese orphans in 1939 during the Sino-Japanese War. [citation needed] [1] CCF provides services to children, most funded by individual contributors, in the form of monthly child sponsorships. In addition, CCF says it receives grants and donations that support vocational training, literacy training, food distribution, educational programs, early childhood development, health and immunization programs, nutritional programs, water and sanitation development, and emergency relief in both man-made and natural disasters.
The organization is notable for its television commercials on major networks in the United States. The commercials include photographs and videos of impoverished children in developing countries.
Sponsorship model
In Christian Children's Fund's current sponsorship model, individual donors contribute funds on a regular basis which are combined with those of other sponsors and applied to an entire community. [2] Christian Children's Fund encourages sponsors to correspond with children in the sponsored community.
Efficiency and financials
Charity Navigator[3] gives CCF an overall rating of three out of a possible four stars, notably less than the four out of four stars given to comparable charities such as Save the Children, All God's Children, and Help the Helpless. For 2006, CCF allocated its $206,105,391 in revenue as follows:
- Programs - 80.6%
- Fund raising - 8.1%
- Administration - 11.2%
Charity Navigator lists CCF having $45,446,931 in assets. CCF's former President, John F. Schultz, received $274,276 in compensation in 2006. [4]
Publications
CCF releases a number of publications every quarter to six months. It has three: ChildWorld magazine, ChildWire e-newsletter, and an annual report. The newsletter is sent to subscribers every two to three months via e-mail.
Issues
In May 2004, CCF became the subject of some contention when Christian charity watchdog group Wall Watchers sent a "donor alert" via e-mail to about 2,500 subscribers, informing them that the name of the charity -- Christian Children's Fund -- was designed to intentionally mislead its donors into thinking it was a faith-based missionary group.[5] Howard Leonard, a chief executive of Wall Watchers, was quoted by a magazine as saying, "It isn't Christian in the way we look at it. If you're going to be bringing help to these children, you should be bringing the Gospel." A spokesperson for the group said that the organization does not proselytize any person to a faith, rather its name is derived from its founder, a Presbyterian minister who believed in "Christian principles," such as "love thy neighbor as thyself."
In 2008, CCF was reported to have turned down a $17,398 donation from GenCon Live Game Auction, which took place in August at Gen Con, a role-playing and board games convention.[6] The donation was made in honor of Gary Gygax, who passed away in 2008, and who was a frequent donor to CCF.[7] Some individuals within the gaming community expressed disappointment about the decision; prominent author and game designer Rich Burlew, for example, called it "insulting,"[8] and the response by gamers led both the CCF and Gen Con to issue official statements explaining what had happened.[9] When questioned, the CCF replied that reasons for the rejection included "the possible misinterpretation of CCF’s role in regard to the event." ... "The information presented to us gave the appearance that CCF (the organization) was an endorser or supporter of the event instead of a beneficiary."[10] A later statement issued by a representative of Gen Con explained that Gen Con had contacted CCF before the convention was held in August, and asked permission to use CCF promotional materials, which CCF declined to provide because of Gen Con's association with the role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons; after that, according to the statement, Gen Con chose to support a different charity in 2008.[7]
References
- A Book About Children: Christian Children's Fund 1938-1991, Larry Tise, 1983, Hartland Publishing. [unreliable source?]
Footnotes
- ^ Quick Facts about Christian Children’s Fund (CCF) -- states "Founded ... as China’s Children Fund [and the] name Christian Children’s Fund was adapted in 1951."
- ^ "Christian Children's Fund FAQ - How does Christian Children's Fund use the $24.00 that I send for my sponsored child?". christianchildrensfund.org. Retrieved 2007-08-19.
- ^ "Christian Children's Fund". charitynavigator.org. Retrieved 2007-08-19.
- ^ "Christian Children's Fund". charitynavigator.org. Retrieved 2007-08-19.
- ^ "The Use of the Word 'Christian' by Christian Children's Fund is Misleading" (PDF). ministrywatch.org (a program of Wall Watchers). 2004.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|accessdaymonth=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help); Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ Eisen, Andrew (4 November 2008). "Children's Charity Turns its Back on Gygax Memorial Donation". GamePolitics.com.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|accessdaymonth=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyea=ignored (help) - ^ a b LeGault, Jeannette (5 November 2008). "Gen Con Indy08 Show Charity and CCF". Gen Con.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|accessdaymonth=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ Burlew, Rich (31 October 2008). "10/31/2008". Giant in the Playground.
{{cite web}}: External link in|work=|accessdaymonth=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ Burlew, Rich (5 November 2008). "11/5/2008". Giant in the Playground.
{{cite web}}: External link in|work=|accessdaymonth=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ Reply from the Christian Children's Fund over the Gygax Auction, Pulling Weeds out of Potholes (blog), retrieved on 2008-11-03