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Despite worldwide disasters, local giving remains steady
By Holly Fisher
Supplements Editor
Americans have been in the giving spirit this year. They gave to help people hit by the deadly tsunami in Asia. Millions of dollars were given to aid those struck by Hurricane Katrina. More hurricanes hit in Texas and Florida. A massive earthquake recently struck Pakistan and India.
It may seem like Americans have given all they can give. Well, yes and no.
Some may be tapped out when it comes to giving, but others, nonprofit officials said, give because they want to give, regardless of the number of disaster relief programs asking for donations.
“I think it’s pretty well documented that Americans tend to give about 2% of their overall income and that doesn’t spark higher in times of natural disasters, so that can have a negative impact on local contributions,” said Chris Kerrigan, president of Trident United Way.
It is still too early to tell, Kerrigan said, whether this year’s number of large disasters will impact giving to Trident United Way, which supports a number of Lowcountry nonprofits. TUW kicked off its fundraising campaign in September.
Even in times of national tragedies, giving locally is important, Kerrigan noted. More than 600 families displaced by Hurricane Katrina sought shelter in the Lowcountry so assisting local shelters and social service agencies is critical.
Relief giving hasn’t hurt the Gavalas-Kolanko Foundation, which gives scholarships to college students with physical impairments.
Nick Gavalas, general agent of MassMutual’s South Carolina Agency and foundation co-founder, said giving has doubled this year.
“People follow their passions; that’s just the way it is,” he said. “When people are passionate about causes, then they pursue them to whatever extent they can.”
As more people become aware of this need, giving is going up. “We’ve worked very hard at raising the visibility,” Gavalas said. “The more people that know, the more people there are to decide whether to give.”
With Christmas around the corner, many Lowcountry residents will be opening their wallets again to support those less fortunate.
Sandy Scott, director of development and public relations for the local Salvation Army, anticipates a strong holiday season. “I think this is a very giving, generous community,” she said. “They take pride in that, in helping their own.”
Even though the Salvation Army assists people all year, it receives more attention during the holidays when people give to the bell ringers and various toy and food drives.
“People who are loyal to the Army are loyal to the Army,” Scott said.
She admitted the Salvation Army is concerned about how this year’s many disaster relief programs will impact its donations. “We’re being extra careful about how we spend money and how we solicit money,” Scott said. “We’re focusing on Christmas and the local community.”
Holly Fisher is the supplements editor for the Business Journal. E-mail her at hfisher@charlestonbusiness.com.
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