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Avatar for rtowerbay
Oct 4, 2022 6:06 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Randy
Southwest Kansas (Zone 5a)
Cat Lover Irises Keeper of Poultry
After 2 1/2 years of planning, planting and developing, I'll finally be opening a new online retail iris business in 2023.

My wife and I have always believed in giving back and we'd like to do that with this business, too.

Still working out the details but I think the simplest option will be to contribute a fixed amount for each rhizome sold. I'd like to give my customers the option to choose which charity the contribution for their purchase goes to. And to keep it manageable I think it will be best to limit the choice to one of three or perhaps four charities.

There are literally thousands of charities out there so I'm hoping you can help me narrow down the options. I'd like to find something appropriate to the gardening community.

So, right now please consider yourself an active participant in this project and tell me what you would choose. Maybe something that helps people to actually improve their lives through gardening. Or some type of gardening therapy program. Or, ???

I'm sure some of you know how we can make a difference for a few people and I'd love to learn what you know.

Thank you!!

Randy
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Oct 4, 2022 6:46 PM CST
Name: Laurie
southeast Nebraska (Zone 5b)
Irises Butterflies Bee Lover Bulbs Cat Lover Region: Nebraska
Photo Contest Winner 2023
Congratulations, Randy! I hope your business is a success. I suppose if I was looking for a garden based charity with a nationwide reach, I'd consider the Arbor Day Foundation:
https://www.arborday.org/
You could also include something local---your local customers would probably be happy to support it. Smiling
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Oct 6, 2022 11:45 PM CST
Name: Sherry Austin
Santa Cruz, CA (Zone 9a)
Birds Bulbs Region: California Dragonflies Foliage Fan Irises
Keeper of Poultry Roses Photo Contest Winner: 2015
Do you have a local botanical garden or arboretum? They all seem to be underfunded and in constant need of money. Might be nice to keep some of it local.
The surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that it has never tried to contact us.
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Oct 7, 2022 7:41 AM CST
Name: Monty Riggles
Bassett, Virginia (Zone 7a)
Avid iris and daylily grower.
Cat Lover Daylilies Irises Keeper of Poultry Region: Virginia
That's awesome Randy! I hope for your sake that this iris retail business is fulfilling and profitable!

I'd reckon any charity that helps out your local area, such as a food bank or a charity event would benefit you. So much to choose from, so much you would want to help with.
Does anyone know how to stop spending money on flowers?

TB 'Money in Your Pocket'
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Oct 7, 2022 12:55 PM CST
Name: Daisy
close to Baltimore, MD (Zone 7a)
Amaryllis Plant and/or Seed Trader Region: Maryland Peonies Organic Gardener Irises
Herbs Hellebores Growing under artificial light Container Gardener Cat Lover Garden Photography
I would think that because Randy wants to limit the charities to three or four out of the thousands, he might want them to be ones with a national reach. We need more health research, with the money actually going to research, rather than to fund the salaries of people running a fund. So here is an interesting article about that very subject. http://www.effectivism.net/201... .

My votes would be for the Cancer Research Institute, the Michael J. Fox Institute for Parkinson's Research, and the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association.

I know we all know people who've died of cancer or suffered from it. It's long past due that we find effective "silver bullet" cures for it. My aunt died of cancer. My father died with it. My husband's best friend died of it. I have at least three cousins who've had it. My sister-in-law has it, Two of my best friends have it. And I have genes for "late developing breast cancer." Enough!

Parkinson's Disease is another. My husband has it. My mother-in-law likely had it.

And, lastly, autoimmune diseases run rampant in my family: between us we have Sjrogen's syndrome, Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, undifferentiated connective tissue disease, uveitis, and scleroderma. My best friend's sister died of myasthenia gravis and the husband of another friend has multiple sclerosis. My grandmother and mother were so frustated when arthritis sharply curtailed their gardening activities. And even the obituary of my great great grandfather commented that he had suffered for many years with aches and pains. Many people here would probably be greatly surprised at all the many diseases that are caused by mis-directed antibodies (auto-antibodies, directed toward self). Here's a list of many of them.
https://autoimmune.org/disease...
-"If I can’t drain a swamp, I’ll go pull some weeds." - Charles Williams
Last edited by DaisyDo Oct 8, 2022 6:43 AM Icon for preview
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Oct 7, 2022 6:27 PM CST
Name: Elsa
Las Cruces, New Mexico (Zone 8a)
Dog Lover Irises Region: New Mexico Region: Southwest Gardening Region: United States of America
All the above sound like great ideas to me!!!
If you think there is no more beauty left in the world...Plant a garden!!!
Avatar for rtowerbay
Oct 8, 2022 6:35 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Randy
Southwest Kansas (Zone 5a)
Cat Lover Irises Keeper of Poultry
Thank you to everyone who has responded so far. I appreciate you taking time to help me!

We live in such a remote area, the nearest botanical gardens are 3 hours and 5 hours away.

But Daisy is right. I'm looking for something with a national reach. I like the idea of at least one of the charities being related to health research. My mother had cancer three different times over the last 20 years. She beat it twice. The third time it was actually the chemo that caused her death just a few months ago.

But I've known people who's lives have been affected by Parkinson's and by auto-immune diseases as well.

After reading all your responses, I'm leaning toward trying to find charities in three different categories... health-related, food-related (by that I mean some type of organization that helps feed people or helps people feed themselves.) plus a third category I have yet to define.

I think almost everyone is going to know someone or have a family member who has been affected by cancer or Parkinson's. So, one of those for certain.

I've also noticed that Franklin Graham's organization, Samaritan's Purse, seems to appear wherever in the world tragedy strikes. They help communities rebuild after floods, fires, hurricanes, just about any disaster anywhere in the world. That might be my third 'category'.

So I'm really just trying to identify a charity that is 'food' or 'garden' related. There's one organization called Heifer International. I just looked them up. Here's there 'mission statement':

"Heifer International is a global nonprofit working to eradicate poverty and hunger through sustainable, values-based holistic community development. Heifer International distributes animals, along with agricultural and values-based training, to families in need around the world as a means of providing self-sufficiency."

That one might work. Unless someone here knows of something similar that I'm not aware of yet.

I think we're getting close. I sure appreciate all your suggestions!

Randy
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Oct 8, 2022 11:57 AM CST
Name: Marilyn, aka "Poly"
South San Francisco Bay Area (Zone 9b)
"The mountains are calling..."
Region: California Daylilies Irises Vegetable Grower Moon Gardener Dog Lover
Bookworm Garden Photography Birds Pollen collector Garden Procrastinator Celebrating Gardening: 2015
I applaud your desire to help others. Thumbs up

I've donated to both Heifer International and Samaritan's Purse. Both of them do good work. I favor Samaritan's Purse as it is a Christian ministry (not to mention it scores better as a charitable organization), but some of your customers may not like that.

While I understand the desire to fight against cancer (both of my parents died of it, and I have had it), I am frankly skeptical of the good that donations to any national disease organization (cancer or otherwise) would do.

Whichever organizations you choose, I strongly urge you to investigate them using Charity Navigator, which can at least tell you if the money is spent wisely (what % is actually given to the stated purpose, as opposed to administration and marketing/advertising/soliciting more donations). https://www.charitynavigator.o... Ideally you would like to give your money to 4* organizations, but I confess that I support a few 3* organizations myself, because I see the need and almost no one else is fulfilling it.
Evaluating an iris seedling, hopefully for rebloom
Avatar for rtowerbay
Oct 9, 2022 6:48 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Randy
Southwest Kansas (Zone 5a)
Cat Lover Irises Keeper of Poultry
Marilyn, Thank you for that link!

Both Samaritan's Purse and the Michael J. Fox Institute for Parkinson's Research are rated 4 stars. I'm kind of leaning in that direction at the moment. Heifer International is 3 stars, but still a possibility.

I still wonder if someone out there might be aware of a U.S. charity that is focused on 'sustainable' local agriculture projects to help feed people, or teach them to provide for themselves. Something along that line.

Wish I could better describe what I'm searching for. Just looking for something that doesn't just buy and distribute food but works to teach or train people to feed themselves. Sorry for my vague description.

As I reread this, I'm thinking, that's exactly what Heifer International does. Provides animals, chosen based on the locally-available resources, then teaches people how to raise those animals and, as they reproduce, share the increase with others in need locally.

Let me ask it this way;

If you were making an online purchase and were given the opportunity to direct a small portion of your purchase, at no additional cost to you, to one of three charities, would you choose one of these three?...

The Michael J. Fox Institute for Parkinson's Research
Samaritan's Purse
Heifer International

Or would you prefer something else?

Thank you Everyone for your time and help!

Randy
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Oct 9, 2022 12:51 PM CST
Name: Marilyn, aka "Poly"
South San Francisco Bay Area (Zone 9b)
"The mountains are calling..."
Region: California Daylilies Irises Vegetable Grower Moon Gardener Dog Lover
Bookworm Garden Photography Birds Pollen collector Garden Procrastinator Celebrating Gardening: 2015
I'd definitely choose from the latter two. As I believe I've said, I've donated to Heifer in the past and I do like their model of teaching people how to farm/raise animals, and then pass on the increase to bootstrap other people in the local community. (If you dig deep down, Samaritan's Purse also has the option of donating food (animals or plants) to various communities, or at least they did. I sometimes do this, but more often donate for disaster relief.)

I know nothing about the Fox Institute, but as it may fulfill a human need (yes, as I said, I'm a cynic when it comes to disease-related orgs), it could be a valid choice. I do think that it's good to offer your customers a choice.

(As a long-standing supporter, I'm going to put a plug in here for Canine Companions for Independence, who raise and train service dogs. I see they currently get a 4* rating, which wasn't always the case. There are very few organizations that fulfill this need (Paws for a Cause is another), so that could be a potential option.)
Evaluating an iris seedling, hopefully for rebloom
Avatar for rtowerbay
Oct 10, 2022 8:30 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Randy
Southwest Kansas (Zone 5a)
Cat Lover Irises Keeper of Poultry
Marilyn,

A service dog training organization is a great idea! I have a younger sister who was born with Spina Bifida. She had a black lab that was trained by a prison inmate. Was an amazing service dog. The organization that provided the dog required her to come to a three day "training camp" (along with about eight other service dog recipients) to meet her dog and learn to work with it.

As I recall, there was no cost to my sister. But I do know the cost to raise and train those dogs is significant. Several thousand dollars per dog.

I'll do some research in that area. Thank you!!

Randy
Avatar for trustmissy
Oct 14, 2022 7:55 PM CST
Name: Missy
Traverse City, MI (Zone 5a)
What a wonderful idea. I would love to see donations to go to an Alzheimer's charity, as well as Parkinson Disease , Feed the children or /and arthritis research charity. And I would also recommend checking any charity out on Charity Navigator.
Avatar for IrisLover446
Oct 16, 2022 6:24 PM CST

Have you thought of supporting your local County 4H? Since you live in a rural area and all the local 4H Clubs have to sustain themselves it might be an excellent way to give back to the community. I talked to a close friend of mine who comes from a long line of farmers and their lives have revolved around 4H for as long as she can recall. I remember watching her at her first Black & White Show, she was 10 y.o. and her kids are now showing those lovely Holsteins. These kids work hard and respect our planet earth, which you don't find in many young people today. It's just a thought as I actually saw her today and now she has a 15 and 12 y.o!
Avatar for rtowerbay
Oct 16, 2022 7:30 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Randy
Southwest Kansas (Zone 5a)
Cat Lover Irises Keeper of Poultry
IrisLover466, I agree with you. 4H does a great service and those who participate do learn discipline and respect. And they do work hard. I have a nephew with four young children, three of which raise cattle, pigs, goats... I'm not really sure I know the entire list. But they show their animals and often put in really long days.

We do support local things personally. But for this project, since I'm asking people from all over the U.S. to help decide where to share the contributions, I think I need to stick with something more 'national' in nature.

Thank you for your ideas though!

Randy
Avatar for rtowerbay
Oct 17, 2022 7:08 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Randy
Southwest Kansas (Zone 5a)
Cat Lover Irises Keeper of Poultry
THANK YOU! to everyone who contributed suggestions!

I've decided to support Paws With a Cause, Heifer International and Samaritan's Purse. I really like what each of those organizations do and I think that will give customers to my website a good selection of options.

My plan is to contribute a set amount per rhizome sold, at no cost to my customers, but let them choose where their contribution goes.

Each charity has great videos that I can link to so my customers can learn about whichever one they're interested in. And, even if they don't purchase from me, if they watch the videos that may lead to more publicity and support for the charities anyway. So, win-win.

Sure do appreciate your ideas!
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