Alternative Giving

Offering regular GRide made the reasonable point that while hurricane charity donations have been outstanding in recent weeks and months, other charities that people normally donate time and money to are suffering because of the urgency of the Katrina devastation and displacement. We should not, therefore, forget that there are other causes out there that are worthy of our attention, but more importantly, our money. In that spirit, here is a cause that GRide feels is a good one and also needs your help-

Make A Wish.

Now, that isn't to say that you should stop helping the hundreds of thousands displaced by the hurricane, but we here at the Offering will try make public service announcements about other charities that are doing good things as well.

And since we're talking about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, here's a good story- Last week Charlie Weis visited 10-year old Montana Mazurkiewicz, who was dying from an inoperable brain tumor. A huge Irish fan, his biggest wish was to call the first play for Notre Dame against Washington on Saturday. He wanted a pass play to the right, and even though Notre Dame got the ball on their own 1-yard line on the first possession, making a pass play very risky, Weis kept his promise. Brady Quinn rolled out right and hit tight end Anthony Fasano for a 13-yard gain. Montana never saw the play. He died Friday night.

GRide is right- there are lots of good causes out there. We'll try to highlight some of them here at the Offering, and we'll start today with making wishes like Montana's come true.

If you have a cause that you would like the Offering to link to, send me an email or post a comment on the blog.