Hi... just curious, as it was raised in another thread - what did you do with the money donated for Sept 11 victims? How much (if I may ask) was raised in total? Have you previously supplied this information to your site members? If so, a link (if still available) will be suffice. Thanks.

Good question.

Been wondering about that too, tricky....

Yep. Was it ever announced? Don't remember seeing it, if it was.

Make a Wish Foundation Clint

Dont forget that the donations you made are Tax deductable... If you have a receipt of some kind.

Clint, did the "Make a Wish" foundation have a special fund for Sept 11 victims? If so, you might want to be more specific to avoid another round of flaming. The Make A Wish people are a fine group, but people who were giving to Sept 11 victims will be upset if that's not who the money went to.

Attached Link: Info

so how much was raised and how much was donated to "Make a Wish Foundation"?

I think Clint is a little confused. It was going to the Red Cross 9/11 fund up until a certain time last year. The money that was rised since then went to the Make A Wish Foundation.

BTW If you purchased a product that was Community Fund, You can not deduct it since you got something in exchange. That money is only deductable for the Merchants and Renderosity. Since the donation is really from us.

Just saying "Make A Wish Foundation" doesn't really answer the question, especially as there seems to be some confusion about which charities were involved. It would be nice to know how much money was raised, exactly, and where it ultimately went--doesn't seem like a lot to ask. I'm not implying any chicanery here, but since the question came up it would be reasonable for management to consult its records and let the membership in on the details. Hard to adopt the attitude that it's none of our business, in this case.

"Hard to adopt the attitude that it's none of our business, in this case. " I quite agree Mosca, and I hope that when the office opens on Monday we may see an answer. Kevin.

"Just saying "Make A Wish Foundation" doesn't really answer the question, especially as there seems to be some confusion about which charities were involved."

No confusion. I am not involved in anyway with the donation fund but I did see the discussion about remaining money going to Make a Wish.

The Red Cross at one point had asked that there be no more donations. They simply didn't need the money at one point. I had a cafepress store for donations at the time and cafepress even ended their fundraising campaign.

I don't think sirkrite meant that where the money went was none of your business, Mosca. But it was right that the Merchants held the discussion of where to send the remaining amount. If you purchased something that went to the fund, you received something in return. The merchant who donated received nothing and had more of a right to vote on where the remaining money went. I don't believe there was any misuse of the donation funds and I'm sure Clint or whoever was in charge of sending the money could prove with a receipt if anyone needed.

No cloak and daggers beyond this point. :)

"But it was right that the Merchants held the discussion of where to send the remaining amount." I would agree if the site and merchants between them had decided to donate money to help the victims of 9/11 privately but it wasn't. A fund raising scheme was set up and announced. That's why items for the fund had an icon next to them and in many cases customers bought items deliberately knowing that the profits were going to this good cause. This was a fund raising event and legally all details of amounts raised etc should be available to all the participants.

Kendra is correct, I didn't mean it, as it was none of your business. I was just pointing out that you couldn't deduct it on your tax return.

"A fund raising scheme was set up and announced. That's why items for the fund had an icon next to them and in many cases customers bought items deliberately knowing that the profits were going to this good cause.
This was a fund raising event and legally all details of amounts raised etc should be available to all the participants. "

But what were they to do once the Red Cross (I'm assuming this is where it was going) asked that people hold off on donations like they did? At one point, this type of donation was no longer needed and they had to do something. It's not like the money was kept. Perhaps it should have been a public discussion but my gosh, imagine the headaches and the free-for-all it could have been.

My point is, if Clint says the money was donated to Make a Wish then it was.

Casting out speculation with no facts isn't fair. I'm sure on Monday he'll make it more clear in light of this discussion. Untill then it should be left as a question. Not an accusation.

JenyK handles the Charity fund distribution. Make a wish got some and I think some went to the 9/11 fund. However - Im not the financial manager, JebyK is and I'm sure she will have the correct information. Clint

JebyK = JenyK Clint

Perhaps you can save yourselves some heartache and have JenyK answer here, along with scanned images of the reciepts from those who recieved the donations. Corporate donations are always recipted, so there shouldn't be any problem posting it, would there? After all, it beats having the Tenn. Att'y General's office demanding it, no? /P

This is one of the few times where I actually believe what's stated... the money went to charity and is taken care of. Nothing dark and sinister going on. And to tell the truth, I had more problems donating to these Feed the Children funds that misappropriated my donations... And they never ever issue proof, either. Nah, I believe it all went as planned here.

Just for the record, I asked this question because, should, one day in the future, Renderosity provide the avenues to donate to charitable causes again, I feel they would guarantee a maximum response from members if they know where it's going, when it's going there and how much is raised. If members are satisfied by knowing this information, then, with the member-base you have here, and the international diversity of it, you could really do some serious fund-raising. Amidst all the controversies continually providing me with an entertaining read in this forum, the fact that you facilitated (I don't get out much ;), in more ways than one, for donations to be collected and forwarded demonstrates that you have the desire to do the right thing. Providing information on the where the money went, and how much was raised would no doubt ensure you can fulfil your charitable opportunities with your site in the future, which ultimately benefits the recipients of the funds. Hence, asking the questions in the first place. I certainly wasn't attempting to provoke conversation (though, being the regular reader I declared myself to be above, I should not be so naive) on any potential underhandedness. Oh... and for the record, despite not actually having any art here, I've been a member for over a year, and tour the galls here all the time. The talent and imagination here is awesome. IMHO, that is :)

One small cavel, if I may. The Make a Wish Foundation is a great thing, no question about it -- I take part in a charity concert for them every Christmas. But the MAWF isn't what people thought they were donating to, and even if the Red Cross said, Hey, no more money (The Red Cross would say that???), it still would have been nice if Rsity had perhaps posted a poll and given the donors the opporunity of putting in feedback on where the money should alternately go.

...or maybe just closed down the Charity fund when / if Red Cross didnt needed more money. It was founded as a fund for the sep 11 victims, I for one was a little surprised to find out that not all the money went to Red Cross. It also surprises me that we have never seen any kind of account for the Charity fund. How much money came in ? How much was given to Red Cross ? How much to The Make A Wish Foundation ?

so is JenyK going to reveal all to us today?

Sorry, still really busy with year-end stuff. It was a little over $2500 that went to the Make a Wish Foundation. The checks sent to the American Red Cross totaled a little over $1600. There was a front page article that announced the amount sent to the American Red Cross, and an article for this year's donation to Make a Wish is supposed to be launched in the next day or two.

seems like it boulder...thanks for the informations JenyK.

Thanks for the info Jeny. So what was the total amount raised over the whole period of the fund raising?

Attached Link: http://www.renderosity.com/index.ez?viewStory=2724

Thanks for answering the question, the prompt response in doing so, and the link, JenyK :)

Why hasn't anyone mentioned the fact that the "charity" fund was originally initiated as a method for members to support the bandwidth and administration costs of this site? It wasn't until 9/11 that the funds were diverted to the red cross and other charitable organizations. Kate (whose very first purchase on 6/5/2000 was a charitable fund item)

Kate, We stopped the charity items in January 2001 - i think. We launched the charity items again the day of Sept 11th. tammy

Thanks for clarifying that, Tammy. I know that a lot of the newer members were likely unaware of the initial "charity" fund and its purpose. Kate