You may never know where your money is going

November 5, 2015

I have never donated to relief funds after a disaster, because if you can "follow" the flow the money, it doesn't always go to those who need it. I let wealthy people, celebrities, and major corporations, to contribute and hopefully they can follow through on what their money has done to help others.

We all know that natural disasters, and the ravages of war, which continue to accelerate across the world, cause irreparable damage, leaving people homeless and needing basics to survive. Today we wonder what will happen to the millions of refugees who left the Middle East and Africa to seek a better life in Europe where the winters can be harsh and life cannot support that many foreigners.

Last week I read a woman, 62, from NYC whose family migrated here from Haiti after she was born. We talked about the relief fund set up after the 7.2 earthquake there January 12, 2010 and how so little was accomplished since then. The people wonder what happened to the money. My client travels to Haiti when she can donating her time and money to set up and fund a school for teenage children who have nothing. It reminded me of Oprah and her girls school in Africa, the difference being my client is not wealthy and struggles to get things done. I told her about Go Fund Me.

Go Fund Me, and similar websites, collect money to help those in need, allowing you to track the money and feel that you've made a difference most of the time. I have heard about scams with these resources also.

The moral of the story ... be careful donating money unless you can see the results, because you never know where it will go. Actually be careful lending and investing money - you may never see it again. Donate time, food and water, clothing, and other needed items. Unfortunately there is too much greed, corruption, controversy, and skimming programmed into the hologram that warrants caution especially in the age of technology where anyone can hack in and steal assets.