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Far too often the corporations that sponsor "exercise-a-thons" do less
good than people think. For instance, from 1998-2002 cosmetics giant
Avon sponsored 3-Day Breast Cancer Walks where nearly half of the money
raised was used to stage and market the walks and to pay the event's
producer, Pallotta Teamworks. Thanks to the efforts of many BCA
activists and the Follow the
Money Alliance, Avon has since broken its ties with Pallotta and now
stages 2-day walks. We continue to ask Avon to be more transparent
about
how much money stays with the cause and to involve the community in
decisions about what programs the money will fund. Before you support a
fundraising event, ask where the money is going. This means not only
how
much of the money is going to the cause, but also what programs are
being supported. If you don't like the answer, make a donation directly
to an organization whose work you support, or create your own
fund-raiser by getting people to sponsor you for a local race or
marathon, and then donating the money directly to a nonprofit whose
work
you admire. Don't let corporations and wealthy charities exploit your
concerns and benefit from massive public relations campaigns while you
and your loved ones foot the bill.
What if a friend asks you to sponsor them for a walk that you would
rather not support? How to Say No to An Avon Walker was written by a BCA member and
is a great example of how to graciously decline your friend's request.
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