Charitable Donations Up, But Not Enough
CHICAGO (WBBM) -- After two very dismal years, donations to charitable organizations are up slightly.
But WBBM Newsradio 780 Political Editor Craig Dellimore reports other factors may mean a worsening situation for those in need.
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Laura Thrall, the president and chief executive officer of United Way of Metropolitan Chicago, says donations might be a little higher this year. But she says donations are far from high enough to cope with the increasing number of people who are turning to charitable groups for help.
Thrall adds that the State of Illinois is not funding social programs adequately.
"So the dollars they don't have are coming out on the backs of organizations like Children's Home and Aid and others that rely on state funding to provide their services," Thrall said. "So even if we – you know, United Way is the second-largest funder of human services next to state government. But we could raise three times as much, and it won't begin to close the gap in the billions that are being defunded from health and human services across the state."
WBBM 780 explores the crisis among charities this weekend on "At Issue," Sunday evening at 9:30 p.m.
