ART4PREZ.COM
How You Can Help
Political vs. Charitable Contributions
The first thing you can do is stop feeding the beasts with your political donations that fuel ads used to defame and slander opponents, predicting doom and gloom if they are elected. Of course, I must admit I am no different as I do not believe our country could survive another four years of either Trump or Biden. But at least I'm not asking you for money to help me paint either one as the devil incarnate. I still have hope that the power of ideas and reasoned debate can rule the day. But even if my hope is naïve and misguided, I would highly encourage you to either save your money or donate it to a worthy charity—and please let that charity know your donation to them is in lieu of a political one. I'd like to be able to eventually quantify some positive impact that our efforts together may have had on helping various charitable causes and diminishing political ones. It only makes sense (or cents?) that if the partisans see a dent in their $14.4 billion fundraising, they may start to get a clue. And unlike a campaign contribution, your charitable contribution may be tax deductible!
If you need any suggestions on worthy charities, I have a list below of some of my favorites, but please don't interpret my mention of them in any way implying their implicit or explicit endorsement of my candidacy. These are charities I have regularly contributed to for years (except where indicated):
American Red Cross
Benedictine Sisters of Virginia
Borromeo Housing
http://www.borromeohousing.org/
(Seeks to empower young single mothers to create a self-sustaining future through education, counseling and support, while they reside in a safe home.)
Catholic Charities (Arlington, VA Diocese)
or national site
https://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/
Catholic Medical Missions Board
(Works to provide countries worldwide with urgently needed medicines, medical supplies, and health solutions.)
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children international
(Thanks to Thiedelle for bringing this charity to my attention. They do very good work and get high ratings for financial transparency but I would encourage them to shoot for a goal of 90% of their donated funds directly helping those in need.)
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Kennedy Catholic High School, Somers, NY
https://kennedycatholic.org/giving/
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Little Sisters of the Poor, Baltimore, MD
https://www.littlesistersofthepoorbaltimore.org/
or national site
https://littlesistersofthepoor.org/
(Provides assisted living and nursing home care to the elderly poor.)
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Porto Charities
https://www.portocharities.org/
(Serves children and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.)
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St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore
https://www.vincentbaltimore.org/
(Provides community services to people suffering from the effects of hunger, homelessness, and poverty.)
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As you can see, many are Catholic based so again, if these are not ones you prefer, don't let that stop you from contributing to your own favorite charity. You have the power to do some real good with your money this election cycle.
Other Ways to Support My Campaign
The one thing you won't have to worry about with me is being added to some mailing or calling list where you are incessantly bombarded with snail mail, e-mail, and robo-calls asking for your vote or financial support. I only donated once in my life to a political campaign where I mailed $25 to the Dole/Kemp campaign back in 1996 in hopes of getting a bumper sticker. It was the biggest mistake I ever made. Not only did I not get a bumper sticker, but for the next year or so I received no less than two mailings a week from one conservative group or another asking for my money. It was ridiculous.
I have no plans to print or distribute any bumper stickers, campaign signs, or literature. Since I'm not a fan of social media, I'm not going there either, except for YouTube (see Campaign Update). However, I do have visions of a truly grass roots campaign and if you are so inspired, you are welcome to design and display your own campaign signs in support of me and/or voice your support for me on our own social media sites. I only ask that you be respectful. Speaking of campaign signs, considering that it takes a whole lot more time, effort, and enthusiasm to create your own sign versus just letting some roving band of campaign workers pound their signs into your lawn, the message you send by creating your own sign will be so much more powerful.
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