Canadians are generous by nature, but with the increasing number of charities, it’s not always easy to decide which ones to give our money to, or to be sure what they do with it. Most people choose a charity that’s meaningful to them. You or a family member may have been affected by a personal cause, believe strongly in it or be supporting a friend’s cause. Cancer charities — and more specifically prostate cancer charities — consist of national and provincial organizations, hospital foundations, local support groups and individuals that solicit your support in a variety of ways (for example, through direct mailings, phone calls, walks, appeals). But the various levels of giving can often become overwhelming to the individual donor. This article may help shed some light on the issue.
Reasons for giving
Most organizations operate with common goals: research, education and information, and service. Some charities focus on all of these objectives while others target one area. For example, the Canadian Cancer Society touches on all three goals by providing researchers with grants, holding events to inform the public about cancer in general as well as specific types, and providing emotional support to individuals and families coping with cancer.
Deciding who to give to
Many different charities raise funds for prostate cancer research and awareness. It’s impossible to list them all, but here are a few examples. If you want to find out more about causes to support in your area, your treating doctor or local support group are good sources of information.
The Prostate Cancer Research Foundation of Canada is a national organization devoted to raising funds for research into the prevention, treatment and cure of prostate cancer by engaging Canadians through awareness, education and advocacy. For more information, visit www.prostatecancer.ca.
The Canadian Prostate Cancer Network (www.cpcn.org) is dedicated to information and education as well as support group promotion. The CPCN aims to: “help individuals and their families understand and cope with prostate cancer by providing up-to-date medical information and individual support; lobby for increased funding for research, treatment facilities and programs; promote the importance of early detection through public awareness campaigns.”
Prostaid in Calgary (www.prostaid.org) missions include: assisting and supporting men and their families on the journey with prostate cancer, increasing public awareness and providing a strong provincial voice in matters relating to the disease.
PROCURE is a Québec based not-for-profit organization (www.procure.ca) dedicated to promoting excellence in the areas of education, service and research. PROCURE strives to redefine the boundaries of research and knowledge by initiating an ongoing dialogue with the public and healthcare community to provide needed information and support through accessible means, such as a comprehensive website in French and English, lectures and special events. PROCURE also funds and structures a bank of biological materials and data on men with prostate cancer as well as those at risk of developing the disease.
Buyers beware!
How do you know when you’re being had? For example, just because it’s “pink” doesn’t mean that a proportion of the funds are going towards a breast cancer charity. How do you know if the $20 you gave to the person who knocked on your door is really going to your local cancer society?
Unfortunately, reputable charities sometimes suffer because of the misdeeds of others. It’s important to learn to discern whether you’re giving to a reputable organization or if someone is taking advantage of your charitable nature. The CRA (Canada Revenue Agency) offers helpful tips to follow in order to protect yourself (see box, right). You can also search the listing of Canadian registered charities and newly registered, revoked, annulled and suspended charities (within the last 12 months) at http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tax/charities/online_listings/menu-e.html.
How to donate
There are many ways you can make a financial contribution to the charity of your choice:
- Monthly donations: a good way to spread out payments over the year.
- Major annual gifts: may be more convenient for people who would rather not commit to giving on a monthly basis (you may be surer of your budget at year’s end).
- Multiple year pledges: generally done on a corporate level but you might look into your company’s Corporate Social Responsibility policies. You can suggest they give to a particular charity or request that they match your gifts.
- Major lifetime gifts: usually a very large one-time donation.
To find out about other methods, call the charity directly and ask to speak to the person responsible for donations.
It’s not all about money
One thing all charities agree on: volunteers are the cornerstone of their operations. Giving your time is always appreciated. You can also help out by donating a product (e.g. computers or other equipment) or service (such as training or product maintenance).
Volunteering is a two-way street — you can also reap the rewards:
- Gain experience.
- Sharpen your skills or learn new ones (relatively risk-free).
- Expand your horizons and/or open up new career opportunities.
- Get a feeling of satisfaction.
- Achieve visibility in the community or the industry.
Institutional or government agencies sometimes lack resources to support change. Charities are often the driving force behind new laws and treatments, and education and awareness programs. However, they wouldn’t survive if it weren’t for the generosity of their donors (in time or money). When charities and donors come together and mobilize for a cause, great things can happen!
For all those who support the initiatives of the various charities that are striving to improve the landscape of prostate cancer awareness and research in Canada, we thank you.
