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Tag: Charities

Donate with honor, not to a sham charity             

Donate with honor, not to a sham charity             

Would you donate to a charity called Help the Vets? The appeal says your donation will help wounded and disabled military veterans. What about in response to a robocall that asks you to donate your car to Veterans of America? Sounds like a charity, right? Unfortunately, donations to Help the Vets weren’t spent helping disabled and wounded veterans. Very little was spent helping veterans in any way. And, allegedly, Veterans of America wasn’t a charity at all – it was…

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Be aware of potentially fraudulent solicitors

Be aware of potentially fraudulent solicitors

Each year, the Washington State Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division (AGO) and the Office of Secretary of State’s Charities Program (OSOS) reach out to grocery store managers across the state to provide important information about charitable solicitors. Increasingly, solicitors are asking for donations outside of retail establishments and will often set up a table at an entrance or exit of a store. They ask patrons for small cash, check, debit, or credit card donations, purportedly for various causes, such as…

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Wyman & Ferguson: `Give smart’ to charity this season

Wyman & Ferguson: `Give smart’ to charity this season

Secretary of State Kim Wyman and Attorney General Bob Ferguson are reminding Washingtonians to make wise choices when giving money to charity and avoid unscrupulous solicitors during this holiday season and beyond. The two statewide officials who deal most closely with charities also are sharing tips on how to “Give Smart.” They did a joint media blitz on Tuesday. Said Wyman: “People here in Washington are very generous. Many of us give money to help those in need, here or…

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CFD Masquerade Ball Charity Gala at Capitol Oct. 22

CFD Masquerade Ball Charity Gala at Capitol Oct. 22

Secretary Wyman and others at the 2015 CFD Masquerade Ball. (Photo courtesy CFD) If you like dressing in gala gowns and tuxedos, wearing masks reminiscent of medieval masquerade balls, dancing the night away in the Washington’s Capitol Building, casino game time, art exhibits, silent auctions and beer and wine, then you definitely want to be at the 5th Annual Combined Fund Drive Masquerade Ball Charity Gala. The Washington State Combined Fund Drive (CFD) is hosting its annual event in Olympia…

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Reminding people to “Give Smart” to charity

Reminding people to “Give Smart” to charity

Secretary of State Kim Wyman and Attorney General Bob Ferguson are reminding Washingtonians to make smart choices when giving money to charity and avoid unscrupulous solicitors during the upcoming holidays and afterward. The two statewide officials who deal most closely with charities are also sharing tips on how to “Give Smart.” Says Wyman: “Washington residents are so generous and caring. Whether it was the Oso tragedy last year or the wildfires throughout much of our state this summer, many of…

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Wyman & Ferguson: Don’t get scammed when giving to charity

Wyman & Ferguson: Don’t get scammed when giving to charity

KOMO-TV’s Connie Thompson interviews Secretary Wyman. With the holidays approaching, commercial fundraisers will ask for donations they say will go to charities. But Secretary of State Kim Wyman and Attorney General Bob Ferguson are urging Washingtonians to think before they give. The two statewide officials spent Thursday morning doing TV and radio interviews to share tips — and warnings — on how to give wisely during the holiday season and beyond, and how to beware of unscrupulous fundraising. Said Wyman:…

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Supporters can GiveBIG to WTBBL!

Supporters can GiveBIG to WTBBL!

Supporters of the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library have a chance to put their money where their hearts are by donating to WTBBL during GiveBIG, a one-day online charitable giving event that runs Tuesday from midnight to midnight. Last year’s GiveBIG campaign, organized by The Seattle Foundation, raised $11.1 million from 30,000 donors. “This is WTBBL’s third year participating in GiveBig and we are thankful for support from donors and The Seattle Foundation,” said Secretary of State Kim Wyman….

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Philippines typhoon relief: Give wisely!

Philippines typhoon relief: Give wisely!

The widespread  devastation caused by typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines last weekend has left an estimated 600,000 displaced and needing relief now. Many Washingtonians are looking for ways to donate money or goods to help victims. But before you give, the Office of Secretary of State wants to make sure you check out a charity fully before you donate! Unfortunately, there are plenty of unscrupulous people who use tragedy as a chance to scam generous people of their money. If…

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Avoiding storefront solicitor scams

Avoiding storefront solicitor scams

Secretary Wyman is teaming up with Attorney General Bob Ferguson to warn consumers individuals who solicit donations near retail stores on behalf of charities. The solicitors are known to ask for charity donations outside of retail stores, often setting up a table at a store entrance or exit. They ask for small cash, check, debit or credit card donations. In most instances, the solicitors will offer small trinkets for a donation. They state that donations will go toward various charitable…

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Spotlight Charity: Consejo Counseling

Spotlight Charity: Consejo Counseling

(Image courtesy of Consejo) In 1978, Consejo Counseling & Referral Service was founded in response to a lack of culturally appropriate behavioral health resources for the low-income Latino community in Western Washington.  Over the course of more than 30 years, Consejo has expanded to include a large variety of services. Consejo’s mission is to provide a continuum of behavioral health, substance abuse and domestic violence services to individuals and families across Washington to improve the quality of their lives and…

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