Relay for Life is an admirable endeavor

I am writing in response to "Where is your money going? Relay this: Funds raised might not go to patients." Like the original article stated, the AIP did rate the American Cancer Society (ACS) a C+, but these reports are not the whole picture. In fact, other organizations, including the Better Business Bureau, have rated ACS very highly. The ACS recently earned a renewal of the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance certification in 2007.

The key to interpreting and understanding the rankings is to realize that nonprofit organizations operate very differently from one another and each media outlet attempts to compare them using uniquely different methodologies, as well as different combinations and interpretations of financial numbers.

Catherine E. Mickle, National Chief Financial Officer of the American Cancer Society, stated: "We continue to take strong exception to [the AIP] calculations and

have continuously contacted them requesting a reevaluation of the Society's rating. As the Society spends just over $20 to raise $100 and spends approximately 69% of total expenses on program services, a grade of C+ is seriously misleading to our constituents. Other organizations that receive higher ratings are not comparable even though the watchdogs do not adjust their calculations. For example, some nonprofits run events by utilizing professional fundraisers. The Society believes in the model of staffing (and volunteering) to these events, which have grown and integrated our mission."

The statements made by Ms. Dudley about the ACS keeping this information "tucked away" is simply not true. The Wall Street Journal ran an article, "How Charities Can Make Themselves More Open" on Dec. 10, 2007, that praised the Society for being among the more progressive of nonprofits for making information available.

Anyone wanting to find this information would simply need to go to the ACS Web site (http://cancer.org) and search "donations." The fifth link that comes up is "How the ACS Spends Your Donations," which clearly outlines the percentage that goes to research, prevention, detection, advocacy, services and expenditures. So, this information is, in fact, available to anyone.

I volunteer for ACS as the Chair for the Relay for Life at SPU. I am also a cancer survivor. I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma when I was 5 years old, and went into remission when I was 7. Having cancer so young was not easy, and recently finding out I have congestive heart failure as a long-term side effect has been difficult for me.

But being a part of Relay has given me a way to use all of the things I have gone through in a positive way. I recently learned that ACS is funding research on the specific chemo drug that caused my heart condition. This gives me hope that maybe others will not have to deal with the same issues I have. I also volunteer for Camp Goodtimes, a camp for kids with cancer and their siblings. This camp is very important because it gives kids a chance to act like normal kids. At camp they do not have to worry about their cancer or being sick, all they need to do is have fun. This camp would not be possible without the money raised by Relay.

I hope that everyone continues to support Relay here at SPU because it truly does fund ground-breaking research, life-saving education and services, as well as provide a place where the SPU community can come together to heal and fight back.

Cherity Smythe, Senior