Heelychat, the forum for heelys, the shoes with wheels - View topic

Guest

Would you donate throughout the year to a secure, heelychat (maybe paypal) account in order to help off set costs to get kids from around the country to go to an event?

...and throughout that year, have contests and incentives to help decide which kids receive more or something (can be worked out later).

but i would like to see a community that not only helps each other out here on HC...but helps each other out to achieve a better goal and skill level.

suggestions / comments?!

Team Heelys - Northeast Joined: 15 Dec 2006 Posts: 1803

Tax-Deductible means that there would have to be a registered non-profit approved charitable organization.

Joined: 03 Jan 2008 Posts: 223 Location: Warshington, USA

I will preface this with a warning that I am quite pragmatic, and often considered a bit of a downer or party pooper when people have big dreams. It is not because I don't believe the dreams are possible, it's because I want people to make sure they understand the implications of said dreams. I say, if you want it to happen, make it happen! Just make sure you know what you're getting into.

It's a great thought, but if there's anything that can turn something good into something terribly bad, it's introducing any kind of financing/bookkeeping/MONEY into the mix. Like Merlyn said, the receiving body would need to be a 501-C3 charitable organization, i.e. a non-profit group of some kind, for it to be tax-deductible. Even if it weren't tax-deductible, or you formed a group such that it were, you'd also have a HUGE headache on your hands. I could spout off a long list of questions and concerns that everyone who donated would ask, but I'm pretty sure you can figure some out yourself.

Just to get you thinking though, how would the "winners" of this charity be chosen? How would you deal with those who were not chosen, but believe they should have been? Is there a minimum donation? Is there a reward for different levels of donations? How often would the dispensing of money occur? How are the people chosen to make these decisions chosen to be the people who make them? How long do they get to be the people who make the decisions?

Sorry... I had to stop myself... those questions just come flying out of me because I have personal experience with that kind of thing going REALLY bad. Now, that's not to say that such a thing WILL go really bad, but to prevent it from doing so, you'd need to think of ALL possible questions, and determine ALL the answers before even beginning. If people know what they're getting into, they'll be ok with it. It's when people go in with one expectation, and get something else that they get pissed. And believe you me, when there's money involved, people can get REALLY pissed.

I guarantee that I'd have no interest in being responsible for that kind of thing, and I don't know anyone in their right mind who would be... until the money starts coming in. Then you find out who isn't in their right mind. You'll know who because they'll WANT to run it. Why would they want such a headache? Well... the ability to control money is a form of power, and we know what power does, don't we?

Joined: 15 Jun 2008 Posts: 1391 Location: UK

Have to say I agree with AMN. Then again, this post seems to be based about kids in the US, so I don't suppose I get or need a vote here Very Happy

Team Heelys - Northeast Joined: 15 Dec 2006 Posts: 1803

LOL - AMN just poopied.

Razz

i agree with the last one, i mean most of the people on here are kids so why would they donate, theyre trying to get themselves, but im all for trying to get someone ther and have fun. (the last bit makes it seem emean so there really isnt a choice in the survey i wanted) but like, my mom is goign to talk with h4l's mom to get h4l on her friend list so taht she can get discounted flights, we just need to find out if any family members are planning on flying first.

Team Heelys - Northeast Joined: 15 Dec 2006 Posts: 1803

Seth - that's awesome!
That's looking out, man!

Guest

oh don't get me wrong AMN. those question have been flying through my head and I have been thinking of ways that would be efficient in order to run something along those lines. I'm not saying I would do it (would be an interesting task to up hold) but I was just curious on how people would react. I really have seen anything about this kind of topic so I wanted some input. As for who would donate, obviously the kids can't. I was thinking this could be an outreach to the community around the country and maybe this could be a stepping stone onto something bigger to get more people educated and involved in this sport.

I know a lot of these kids can't donate which is where others that can have an oppotunity to do something good. *shrugs* i was going to type something up in the next few days which might be an outline and if anyone would be interested in helping me out, I would love the advice.

Like I said earlier, I didn't say I would take on this project, but I would like to maybe set an outline so that if this could be accomplished one day, there will already be something started in which this can be taken to the next level.

I had to say that I am down with the idea, but I am very skeptical about it

I can't help but agree that the funds would go to Kid A, and then Kid B will cry to his mom, and then Kid C will call the cops because Man A is flying Kid A to a "meeting" because Kid B and Kid C have a love triangle... lol

Basically, its leaving a lot of room for crushed dreams and broken hearts and all that good jazz...