Ho Ho Ho-liday Giving

With temperatures in Texas finally dipping below the freezing mark this week it's beginning to feel more like the Christmas season. The other way you can tell is from all the mail and telephone solicitations from various non-profits seeking year-end donations.

Christmas is all about giving so I encourage you to be generous to help others but I also advise you to be cautious. Not all charities are alike and unfortunately, with some of them most of your gift goes to administrative costs, like fund-raising, and not to help the ones you intended. I encourage you to focus your giving on organizations you know and have supported previously. If you do want to consider helping a new organization, do your homework. Check them out on-line through Charity Navigator or some similar service that can tell you how the non-profit you want to help is rated for effectiveness, efficiency, etc.

If you aren't sure where to help I always recommend The Salvation Army. They are consistently rated very high in keeping administrative costs low so your gift is maximized and they help with such a broad range of human needs from homelessness, to addiction issues, to helping domestic violence victims, just to name a few. I've served on the Advisory Board for the DFW Metroplex Salvation Army command for over 21 years so I'm very familiar with the good things they do in our community.

But regardless of where you decide to give - please give. It helps other people but it also helps you too. It's a great way to get in the Christmas spirit if you aren't there already!