Gender Gap

Sad But True
Today's blog takes a twist and discusses a clear and important gender gap - at least here in North Carolina, and probably across the USA. For the past three years I have served annually as a volunteer for the Shriners and their efforts to collect and channel monies to the Children's Hospital in Greenville, South Carolina.

This hospital provides free medical care for children who are crippled or who have serious burn injuries. It's a good cause and is widely recognized as a great charity. I have personally met with a few recipients and their families and can say that categorically, this is one of the best hospitals for children - bar none.

Charitable Givers
Everyone knows that these are HARD times in the US and that not many people find it easy to make ends meet in this tough and often cruel economy. However, my experience in the past three years has shown me that even in spite of these times, Americans are truly generous people.

Once a year, representatives for the Shriners spend three days volunteering to collect donations from the general public at multiple public places. These venues include banks, department stores, and grocery stores. I have worked at a grocery story and can tell you that the people who donate to this charity, often are the ones you would think are least likely to be generous. I have had individuals driving MoPeds donate $5.00 while the people who drive the BMWs or the Mercedes are the least likely to donate anything. In fact, the people with expensive cars often go out of their way to avoid contact with you! Perhaps they have much in common with Al Gore who donated  a mere $350 dollars in 2007 while earning well over $200,000.

I have discovered that the people who are more likely to be generous, are handicap people themselves! It's ironic, but true! They can fully appreciate what it means to give and they know why they should give. The ones who don't look like they have anything, also fool me into being the ones who are most generous. Even old ladies who can hardly walk without assistance, donate all their loose change from their pocketbooks. In fact, older people also tend to be generous donors.

 

Shame Shame
One more thing I have discovered and must confess. It is the fact that women are much more generous than men! (At least in my experience for the past three years). Women are twice as generous than men are because when they donate, they donate MORE than men do! We're not talking about big bucks that break the bank. We're talking about donating a buck or two at a time. Sometime three or five! When women donate, they cough-up at least a buck or two. When a guy donates, I'm lucky to get a buck or loose change.

Shame on the men!

The Obama Economy
I know that these are hard times and that more and more people are having a tough time making ends meet each and every week of the year. It shows in the donations collected! The first two years I worked (under the new Obama administration) donations averaged fairly decent amounts. But this year (the third year under Obama's economic policies), there is a strong decline in donations! Unfortunately, there is just about a 50% drop in the total amounts collected. That's a shame! People cannot be generous because they have to look-out for their own families first. I understand that - believe me!

 

Two Final Questions
I have two more questions for my readers. they are as follows:

 

1. If you're a guy, why can't you be more generous when you DO donate? It's quite a significant difference in the way women give to a charitable cause. Guys should be ashamed for their lack of generosity.
2. All Americans should ask themselves: Are you better off now than you were three years ago before Obama got his policies in place?

If the answer is "NO" then you need to vote this guy out and make him a one term President in November.

All in all it is a humbling experience to be a volunteer for this charity. You learn a lot about human nature!