Donation ethical question

[Beantown]

So I was reading this really sad story of this Utah boy who was just killed in San Francisco by Fisherman's wharf. This is the article on KSL.

https://www.ksl.com/?sid=30242730&nid=148&title=draper-toddler-dies-after-statue-falls-on-him&fm=home_page&s_cid=topstory

Now I am not trying to diminish this tragedy by talking about this subject but this article brought something up that I have been noticing lately. Which is when families are setting up online donation accounts to cover funeral costs. In this article they had already raised $15,000 out of a $20,000 goal.

The reason I bring this up is because this family seems to be very well off. As it states in the article the father is a Doctor and went to medical school in the Bay Area. Also when this tragedy happened they were on vacation in San Francisco.

So why would a Doctor who was on a vacation need help with covering funeral costs?

There are plenty of children in this world that need access to clean water, food and just the basic necessities in life. Charitable donation funds are so limited that I think it seems a little unfair that a well off family is asking for charitable donations to pay for a child's funeral.

Do they have no savings? No insurance coverage on their children?

Also $20,000 for a funeral?

I feel for this family's loss but I also feel that its shameful that a well off family is asking for donations to help cover these costs.

Thoughts?

 

[Stoked]

So I was reading this really sad story of this Utah boy who was just killed in San Francisco by Fisherman's wharf. This is the article on KSL.

https://www.ksl.com/?sid=30242730&nid=148&title=draper-toddler-dies-after-statue-falls-on-him&fm=home_page&s_cid=topstory

Now I am not trying to diminish this tragedy by talking about this subject but this article brought something up that I have been noticing lately. Which is families setting up online donation accounts to cover funeral costs. In this article they had already raised $15,000 out of a $20,000 goal.

The reason I bring this up is because this family seems to be very well off. As it states in the article the father is a Doctor and went to medical school in the Bay Area. Also when this tragedy happened they were on vacation in San Francisco.

So why would a Doctor who was on a vacation need help with covering funeral costs?

There are plenty of children in this world that need access to clean water, food and just the basic necessities in life. Charitable donation funds are so limited that I think it seems a little unfair that a well off family is asking for charitable donations to pay for a child's funeral.

Do they have no savings? No insurance coverage on their children?

Also $20,000 for a funeral?

I feel for this family's loss but I also feel that its shameful that a well off family is asking for donations to help cover these costs.

Thoughts?

You are assuming that they are well off. Logical assumnption but still an assumption.

If they are well off then yes its tactless. If not then I see no problem with it.

Also charitable donations are limited?

In 2013 the estimates for cahrity in America are:

Individual giving was 228.93 billion in America

Corporations gave 18.15 billion

Bequests got 23.41 billion

Foundations got 45.74 billion.

So America gave 346.23 billion in charitable donations last year. Seems like a huge amount to me.

ncss.urban.org/nccs/statistics/Charitable-Giving-In-America-Some-Facts-And-Figures.cfm

 

[moevillini]

Free enterprise at work?

 

[Beantown]

You are assuming that they are well off. Logical assumnption but still an assumption.

If they are well off then yes its tactless. If not then I see no problem with it.

Also charitable donations are limited?

In 2013 the estimates for cahrity in America are:

Individual giving was 228.93 billion in America

Corporations gave 18.15 billion

Bequests got 23.41 billion

Foundations got 45.74 billion.

So America gave 346.23 billion in charitable donations last year. Seems like a huge amount to me.

#1-The father is a doctor and the family is on vacation in San Francisco. That's the very definition of "well off".

#2-Adding children to your life insurance policy is as cheap as a trip to McDonalds

No matter how much people give its still not enough. My father is working in Liberia right now and the stories about how the children live their is heartbreaking.

My point is their might be lots of charitable giving. But with stories like this it makes me think that a lot of charitable donations are ineffective. Especially when a family like this should be in a position to not need those donations.

 

[Stoked]

#1-The father is a doctor and the family is on vacation in San Francisco. That's the very definition of "well off".

#2-Adding children to your life insurance policy is as cheap as a trip to McDonalds

No matter how much people give its still not enough. My father is working in Liberia right now and the stories about how the children live their is heartbreaking.

My point is their might be lots of charitable giving. But with stories like this it makes me think that a lot of charitable donations are ineffective. Especially when a family like this should be in a position to not need those donations.

1 - Not all doctors make large amounts of money. A trip anywhere in the states can be relatively cheep if planned out and done right.

2 - It is cheap, doesn't mean it was done.

Like I said it is a logical assumption but an assumption none the less.

 

[Beantown]

1 - Not all doctors make large amounts of money. A trip anywhere in the states can be relatively cheep if planned out and done right.

2 - It is cheap, doesn't mean it was done.

Like I said it is a logical assumption but an assumption none the less.

Try again. The average salary for a Podiatrist is $180,000 year.

 

[8]

Likely don't have much set aside and spend what they get. I don't see a problem with it anyways. Don't donate if you disapprove.

Should I be unable to take enzyte just because I have a nine inch penis?

 

[JimLes]

Likely don't have much set aside and spend what they get.

Surely, with the average salary Bean listed above, one would easily be able to get a 20 grand line of credit which one could easily pay off in a year or two.

 

[Stoked]

Try again. The average salary for a Podiatrist is $180,000 year.

If you intimately know this man's finances then why are you asking in the first place? Oh...you don't.

Not sure why you are all defensive about this. But hey whatever floats your boat. Keep on letting assumptions fuel your indignation. Hope you lose sleep over it tbh.

 

[Stoked]

Surely, with the average salary Bean listed above, one would easily be able to get a 20 grand line of credit which one could easily pay off in a year or two.

If they guy makes that then yeah they should be able to do it on their own. But does he?

 

[8]

Surely, with the average salary Bean listed above, one would easily be able to get a 20 grand line of credit which one could easily pay off in a year or two.

or they could just do what they're doing and not have to pay back anything

 

[fishonjazz]

I think it is extremely dumb how much people spend to essentially place a corpse into some dirt.

I have told everyone in my family and my wife that when i die i want them to spend as little money possible.

Preferably they throw my body in a dumpster and be done with it.

Its hard enough for the living to get over the grief and whatnot without having to come up with thousands of dollars for a funeral.

I dont want to be a burden on my loved ones when im dead