How would YOU give away $7million?

[mondo joe]

In light of the news about Cheney's charitable giving, I'd like to know how DUers would give away $7million, within the following parameters:

* You'd have to give away the whole $7million within a 1 year period
* You can't give it to family or friends - you have to give it to a charity, a specific cause, church, campaign, political party, etc. - please say which!
* You can give to as many or as few causes as you choose, but please say how you'd disburse the entire amount

Edit to add: No scams or loopholes to benefit yourself or your family please - how would you GIVE it AWAY.

[valerief]

1. See post on Charitable Remainder Trust

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x934935

[mondo joe]

2. Please see my edit - no loopholes to benefit yourself.

I'd also say my point number 1 would not allow it - the money has to all be given away within 1 year.

[valerief]

4. Ah, well, that's hard.

If you had 7 million, you're probably rich, so that means you could lie about not benefiting from the charity donation, right? If you pretend it's true, then it's true, right?

Hmm, have to think about it.

[ashling]

3. Well, for starters

I would give grants to Young Democrats organizations to fund programs to get new young people into the party.

I've always wanted to do this.

[mondo joe]

5. $1m to ACLU, $1m to Human Rights Campaign

$500k to Public Radio International
$500k to DU

And the remainder to local non profits:

$1m to the Pike Market Foundation
$1m to the Pride Foundation
$1m distributed to a variety of Seattle area non profits

And the remaining $1m I'd give to the Dem candidate I have the greatest belief can win the White House.


But tomorrow I might make different choices!

[grannylib]

6. I would split it evenly between Habitat for Humanity, Heifer Project

International, Planned Parenthood, the Green Party, our local coalition against domestic violence, and some national/state/local candidates. OH! And MADD/SADD groups.

[Jose Diablo]

7. I'd do it this way

$3M to Habitats for Humanity.

$4M to Doctors Without Borders, I don't know if there is a charity for this operation, but I think these people do a lot of good, in a bad situation. They can use it to by supplies, you know stuff like scalples and hypodermic needles, anti-biotics, vaccines. The kind of stuff needed to fight disease and also trauma during a war.

I though about this a lot. Had a pretty big list to begin with, then it got edited down until all that was left was these 2.

Providing shelter and medical care seems to be the biggest issues needing work, I think. Maybe food will become more pressing in the future, but don't hear much about food right now. It would be nice to do something about poverty, but what to do?

Edit to add: It seems to me the biggest cause of poverty is this crummy economic system called capitalism that being shoved down everyones throat by the wealthy and the elite.

[juajen]

8. I would set up a trust in a small city

for the homeless and/or underprivileged. All of the money would be banked except for a couple of million which would be invested with a good investment broker. The interest only from the banked five million would be used to setup a needed business in that city that employs and/or trains the homeless and needy. Any money earned from the investments would be plowed back into the business or used to start a group home for the needy and homeless. All administrative staff would be hired from the pool of homesless and needy, except for an unpaid advisory board.

[abluelady]

9. I would fund a liberal tv station

the opposite of Fox.

[sandnsea]

10. Women's World Banking

and/or other similar micro-loan programs, here or overseas. I love these kinds of small loan/grant programs for poor people because that's how economies really grow and these are the people who really need just a little bit of help to have their own income.

http://www.womensworldbanking.org

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

11. Probably give it to the poorest school in my city.

Or buy the local newspaper and push that school's plight on the front page.

[newportdadde]

12. All of it to the 'Human Fund'.

[mondo joe]

13. ...

[KittyWampus]

14. Build an Animal Shelter here in East Hampton and set up Free Neuter/Spay

program.

It's an absolute disgrace that the Hamptons can't afford a Town Animal Shelter and relies on private individuals.

Edit- buying a large proprety zoned for this and building would cost maybe 2 million.

I'd then ask my Spiritual Group if they wanted to buy a property in NYC area to use as an official base here on the east coast.

[xchrom]

15. i'ld spend it all on animals

spca, greenpeace, land trust, etc