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RICHMOND WATCHDOG OPEN FORUM
 Subject: Corporate Giving - must do better
 
Author: Trevor Clarke
Date:   11/5/2001 12:06 am WEDT
Here are some extracts from the front page of today's Guardian that ought to shame most of our corporates, under the headline: 'Top companies leave charities in the cold.' There is a special supplement of 'The Giving List'.

Full article at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,587833,00.html

"Most of Britain's big companies are failing to support charities and voluntary organisations, despite the huge rise in corporate profits in recent years and the subsequent explosion in executive pay, according to a Guardian investigation published today.

It makes disturbing reading. A scrooge-like mentality in Britain's boardrooms means the 100 biggest companies by stock market capitalisation are contributing just 0.4% of their pre-tax profits to charity and community projects - less than half the average set by American businesses.
Less than 5% of the total charitable and voluntary sector donations made each year in Britain come from the busi ness sector: £680m out of a total of £14.5bn in 2000, when the general public contributed £5.3bn.

The list, compiled with the help of the Directory of Social Change, a charity consultancy, shows that much of the business contribution comes from a handful of companies. Only 10 of the Top 100 managed to donate at least 1% of their profits last year.

The list shows that many of the companies extracting the greatest price from the environment have largely turned their back on the community."

This is another side of how we can improve welfare and facilities for our community. Unlike PFI it is not an arrangement expecting something specifically (monetary or otherwise) back in return. This could be good time for encouraging them to become good corporate citizens and to seek funding for a new ice rink that does not rely on profit but would be invested in and subsidised if need be.

People really need to wake up to this and see the huge financial potential for community benefit that does not require an increase in taxes.

Education is a prime area that could gain.



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 Topics Author  Date      
 Corporate Giving - must do better  new  
Trevor Clarke 11/5/2001 12:06 am WEDT
 RE: Corporate Giving - must do better   new  
Trevor Clarke 11/6/2001 12:03 am WEDT
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