| Majority of Americans Plan to Give to Charity... |
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Even as the nation weathers an economic downturn for a third straight holiday season, the majority of Americans are more committed than ever to charitable giving, according to a new American Red Cross poll.
A telephone survey of 1,020 adults conducted earlier this fall found that even though 67 percent of Americans didn’t think the economic downturn would last this long, they still want to give to charities, with more than seven out of 10 saying they expect to donate more or about the same this holiday season as they did last year.
“No matter their personal financial hardships, Americans still want to give,” said Angela Broome, local American Red Cross CEO.“Rather than giving a gift someone won’t use, people want to give meaningfully and know their gift is making a difference.”
Other key findings:
Four in five (80 percent) of respondents felt their finances are either the same or worse than they were last year.
Sixty-eight percent of Americans believe that because of the economy, it’s important to give something to charity. That’s a 10 percentage point increase over the 58 percent who felt that way last year.
More than half (55 percent) of Americans say they feel bad about spending money on gifts people might not use.
Four in five (79 percent) agreed that they would rather have a charitable donation in their honor than get a gift they wouldn’t use.
About one in five (19 percent) of respondents plan on giving blood this holiday season.
American Red Cross offers meaningful gifts through donations of time, blood and money.
As Americans look for more meaningful ways to give this holiday season, the Red Cross is offering its 2011 Holiday Giving Catalog, which includes a variety of symbolic gifts, donations that support Red Cross programs.
Donors can help vaccinate an entire village, provide food and shelter to a disaster victim, help purchase items like phone cards and supplies for members of the armed forces or help supply basic necessities to families in desperate need in countries across the world. Catalog purchases also come with greeting cards to show others your support during the holidays. The purchase of each gift item is a tax-deductible contribution and provides support to the mission of the Red Cross.
“The Red Cross giving catalog is a way for Americans to give something that means something,” Broome said. “Rather than giving a gift that could be easily forgotten, we hope Americans think of the Red Cross for gifts that could make a lifetime of difference.”
Donors are also welcome to give the gift of life through donating blood at a local blood drive. When you donate blood, you give the perfect gift - another hug, another laugh, another smile, another chance - to someone in need of blood.
All blood types are needed to help maintain a sufficient blood supply, especially type O negative. Type O negative blood, the universal blood type, is always in high demand because it can be transfused to patients with any blood type, especially in emergency situations.
Simply call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make an appointment or for more information. A blood donor card or driver’s license, or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental permission), meet weight and height requirements (110 pounds or more, depending on their height) and are in generally good health may be eligible to give blood. Please bring your Red Cross blood donor card or other form of positive ID when you come to donate.
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