I am fuming mad, and I don’t know where to start.
The huge scandal that has erupted in my home country pertaining to one of the largest, self-professed charitable organisations has set my blood boiling.
Quick background: This “charitable organisation” hosts several fund raising activities via prime time channels for needy patients, raising up to USD5 -8 million per activity. Since its inception, it has now accumulated about USD150 million in reserves, making it the largest charity in the country. Instead of increasing subsidies to needy patients for their treatments, the funds seemingly have been channeled to the CEO, its Board, and possibly all its staff in the form of fat salaries, huge bonuses of up to 12 months, and unbelievable perks (such as installing a GOLD-PLATED tap costing US$600 in his personal bathroom in his plush office, jetsetting in first class, and using DONOR funds to pay for the personal use of his Mercedes, road tax included). The CEO himself is paid a montly salary of USD15,000 and additional bonus of 12 months per annum. As a result of a litigation procedure which took place recently, such atrocities have come to light and have set off a wave of public rage never seen among the normally apathetic and placid citizens (me being one of them).
As if it was not bad enough, the CEO, Board and its public relations machinery have time and again made false and misleading statements in a bid to raise more funds in the name of CHARITY, when their reserves could last up to a good 30 to 40 years without a single cent of donation henceforth. They even had the audacity to sue innocent citizens who had the courage to question their extravagances. According to the CEO, such lavish perks and high salaries were “his entitlement” simply because he has worked 37 years for the organisation, while it was in its infancy, starting out as a volunteer and working his way up. These were also “his entitlement” because he had built up the organisation to one of the biggest, most prominent and most profitable (indeed!!) in the whole wide world. Although his fat paycheck was paid for by the man in the street who will probably never see savings equating to the CEO’s one year paycheck, he did not feel the need to be transparent with his salary and perks because it was “his privacy”.
But I, as well as millions of my fellow averagely paid citizens, donated our money to the 5 year old girl who had bone cancer with one leg already removed, and in constant pain. We donated to the old married couple, both of whom, unfortunately fell prey to kidney failure, and needed expensive dialysis to sustain their lives. These are the constant images we saw on TV, newspapers, brochures. These are the people we wanted to help to alleviate their pain, and offer them comfort.
While I personally do not begrude the man for his salary, I take great offence at the outrageous perks he was given (and possibly to other staff and/or Board members as well), which could have gone to more comprehensive subsidies for the needy (a doll for the little girl perhaps, some food for the old couple?). While the CEO’s unapologetic defence was that the charity organisation was what it was today because it was run like a corporate multinational company, its responsibilities, its societal role, and ultimately its roots are anything BUT. What really do we understand by charity? Is a volunteer still a volunteer if he is paid, and paid very well, sponsored by people who believed the money was going to the poor and desperate? If money is my guiding force, isn’t there a better place to go to rather than work with a charity? If you are with a charity because of your own beliefs, you should be prepared to make sacrifices because the reward of volunteering far outstrips the monetary rewards and perks that you can get.
Many blinkered people who continued to support this CEO pointed out this good track record for the past 37 years, and all the sacrifices he has made in the name of charity. All I can say is that it takes only a single moment of corruption and wrong-doing to wipe out the 37 years of good work.
Between yesterday when I first started out this rant to now as I try to wrap up the longest post I have ever written thus far, the CEO and Board was forced to resign under the barrage of public fury with our government stepping in to try restore shattered public confidence. The saga has not ended yet, there would be more soul-searching, and more relevations to come, and more healing to take place.
While I am not the most charitable soul in the world, this episode has truly open my eyes, and made me wonder if the human race can ever do something good, without expecting something in return? Is charity as an ideal dead?
