3 Responses to “Charity Begins at Home”

1. Tim Coffin says:

   January 5, 2010 at 2:14 PM

   I was dissappointed with the “Investigative Report” on the Salvation Army which aired last. I though the content was sophmoric; kind of a Geraldo Rivera wanna-be, trying to make something out of nothing.

   Your investigative reporter should understand that all large philanthropic organizations (and non profits like BU) invest their funds in a variety of assets in order to leverage them for maximum return. Real Estate is a common asset class employed for that purpose. It seems to me, allowing the Army’s officers to live in those houses in lieu of pay is actually clever and prudent. Your report almost insinuated that the officers were be given the houses – a misrepresentation that could damage the Salvation Army’s fund raising efforts.

   I think the camera work – focusing in on the red collection pails – was irresponsible. Comcast and Boston University owe the Slavation Army an apology, and a more balanced perspective.
2. Paul says:

   January 5, 2010 at 9:52 PM

   This is a despicable hit-piece on a superb organization. Some important facts to consider:

   First, The Salvation Army is incorporated as a church. (Look it up; it’s true.) Many churches provide housing (parsonage or manse) for at least their senior minister and sometimes for associates. This is neither new nor scandalous, and it is allowable under applicable laws governing churches and clergy, so give The Salvation Army a break. Seriously—where’s the story about the Presbyterian Church, for instance, providing a manse for their senior ministers in certain parishes, or the Catholic Diocese of Boston providing housing for their clergy — often a very large, nice house for a single, childless bishop? It’s commonplace and has been so for generations. It’s not really newsworthy.

   Second, a $799,000 home may seem outrageously expensive to folks in other parts of the country, but that amount of money isn’t out of line in Greater Boston.

   Third, The Salvation Army is in fact a remarkably egalitarian organization and officers really do receive very modest stipends. Most move to new posts every two years. They work long hours away from home and adding a long commute to a super-affordable suburb would add further hardship. Unlike many non-profit executives, Salvation Army officers really do sacrifice to fulfill their calling. Having provided fundraising services to The Salvation Army, I admire the organization and the officers who serve. There’s not one Salvation Army officer who is getting rich. Guaranteed.

   Fourth, regarding the size of the house provided for Major Bode and his wife by The Salvation Army, this is made out to be a big deal by the biased television “reporter” who notes that it’s a big, furnished house but only two people live there. Here’s the problem with that perspective: Major Bode and his wife will likely move within two years. They don’t own the house but live there temporarily, just as a pastor of a Presbyterian Church or a Catholic Bishop would live in church-provided home. The next major (or officer of other rank) and his wife (or husband) might be younger and have two, three, four or more kids living with them. Therefore, whatever house The Salvation Army provides needs to be flexible to handle all sorts of family sizes. So, again, the “scandal” of only two people living in such a “big” house isn’t a scandal at all.

   Good grief, I thought these highly educated Northeast “investigative reporters” were supposed to be smart enough to figure out this stuff like this and provide some balance to their stories. But I guess that wouldn’t serve the purpose of gotcha “journalism.”

   Bottom line: this is an unfortunate non-story about a non-problem. Too bad so many readers and viewers are being misled.

   Now here’s the kicker: because of this story, many donors will doubtless stop giving to The Salvation Army, which of course will reduce the number of poor and needy people this outstanding ministry can serve, thus prolonging human misery.

   So, way to go NECIR and BU. Nice work!
3. Jim Pond says:

   February 25, 2010 at 7:27 AM

   Tim Coffin: “…invest their funds in a variety of assets in order to leverage them for maximum return. Real Estate is a common asset class employed for that purpose” Really? I didn’t know the real estate market was so hot an investment currently. Sounds like a strained, weak excuse for bloated largesse