National Survey Shows Cuts in Holiday Gifts; Fewer Cutting Donations to Charities<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
In spite of the economic downturn, Americans remain committed to digging deep into their pockets to support charitable causes this holiday season even as they cut back more on other holiday activities, according to a new national survey by the American Red Cross.<\/p>\n
While 86% of Americans reported their personal finances are the same or worse than last year, 72% expect to give the same amount or more than last year to charity. And nearly 6 in 10 say that because the economy is in poor condition it is more important this year to give to charity.<\/p>\n
“While the economy is still difficult for many people this year, the majority of Americans still expect to maintain their levels of charitable giving,” states Gail McGovern, President and CEO of the American Red Cross. “Americans understand that the needs are great and while it has never been harder to give, it has never felt better.”<\/p>\n
That is why the Red Cross has launched its second annual Holiday Giving campaign, featuring its 2010 Holiday Giving catalog. The catalog encompasses more than 20 unique gift ideas, such as assisting someone in the military with a phone card or supplies, providing food and shelter to a disaster victim, covering the costs of snacks at a blood drive or giving basic necessities to a family in another country. The purchase of each gift item is a tax-deductible contribution to the overall mission of the American Red Cross.<\/p>\n
“The holiday season is a time of hope, and a gift to the Red Cross provides hope when the next disaster strikes, when a neighbor’s house burns down, when someone needs life-saving blood or when a child needs a hug and a blanket,” states Kay Ostrum, Executive Director for the American Red Cross of Northeast Indiana. “A gift to the Red Cross can save the day for people in need, whether they are down the street, across the country or around the world.”<\/p>\n
To browse and shop the 2010 Holiday Giving catalog and make a “gift that saves the day,” visit redcross.org\/gifts. A text donation program is another part of the Red Cross holiday giving campaign. Cell phone users can text the word GIFT to 90999 from now through December 31 to make a $25 donation to the American Red Cross. People who make a $25 text donation will be sent a link to download a badge for their Facebook pages. Donations will appear on customers’ monthly bills or be debited from prepaid account balances. Message and data rates may apply. The Red Cross is working with mGive to process and facilitate the mobile donations.<\/p>\n
* These results are based on a national probability sample of 1,005 telephone interviews among adults 18 years and older living in private households in the continental United States, conducted from October 21-24, 2010. The margin of error for data based on total sample is plus or minus 3.1 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. The survey was conducted by CARAVAN\u00c2\u00ae, an omnibus service of Infogroup | ORC for American Red Cross. <\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
About the American Red Cross<\/strong>
\nThe American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation’s blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization \u00e2\u20ac\u201d not a government agency \u00e2\u20ac\u201d and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. The American Red Cross of Northeast Indiana serves seven counties: Allen, DeKalb, Noble, Steuben, Wells and Whitley Counties in Indiana and Williams County in Ohio. For more information, call (260) 484-9336 or 1-800-513-2599, or visit redcrossofnei.org<\/span>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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