The NKF Debacle

NKF = National Kidney Foundation.

I really have to hand it to them.

Within a few years, they have raised so much money and helped save so many lives. Holding huge charity shows more than once a year, it is one charity powerhouse. It's probably one of the few charities in the world to have a multi-million dollar account.

Then human nature took over. What can I say? NKF's previous CEO was probably became the role model for an idiot when he decided to make public the fact that somebody had spoken ill about a gold tap in the multi-million dollar NKF building.

Like the case where an investor of Raffles Town Club sued another of his for not paying up money....money that came from cheating the public....idiotas.

What the hell's a thousand-dollar gold tap doing in a charity HQ building anyway? It should be in my attached bathroom.

Despite all that, I believe Dr Durai should be applauded...not for his greed, but for his ability to totally break the stereo-typical image for most local charities: that they are poor little organisations that are barely surviving.

Comeon, making a charitable organisation into a million dollar supower charity-power is no mean feat. Yes yes, we are all getting sick of NKF charity shows that happen 10 times a day, however, if we are to stop looking at the mistakes they made, one can see how much potential they have in really making a difference in the lives of the needy.

Think about it. Most other charitable organisations have hardly grown over the years. Yes yes, they do make a difference, then you have to think...why stop there? Why settle for less? Why not expand their operations and make a bigger difference?

It's just like running a business (in this case, the business of helping lives). Would you rather be the small mama shop near your house, or would be rather be...say cold storage? They are in 2 different worlds. One services a few customers a day while the other serves hundreds. Similarly, why help a few if you can help hundreds? Why only hundreds when you can help thousands?

I say let NKF continue with their current method of collecting donations...maybe drop the number of shows, because their fault lies not the the amount of money they have, but in how they spend it.

What about the high expenditure? Look at their freakin returns man. If, for example, it takes $10,000 to raise $40,000 , but $20,000 to raise $75,000, which would you choose? I would pick spending $20,000 becasue the bottomline returns are still higher. Also, nobody is complaining when they get the free NKF medical screening.

And what about paying their 'volunteers'? Why not? Truth be told, many people want to volunteer. However, if they volunteer all the time, they would not be able to take care of themselves, then you would need another charity to support these people. So how? How about paying these people market rate salary? Isn't that a no-brainer? Let's be realistic, no matter how motivated and zealous one is about helping the needy, he still needs a roof over his head. once his basic needs are fulfilled, you can be assured good results from him.

I still have trouble understanding why there are freaks out there who abhor the idea of a rich charity with paid volunteers. Hell, poor charities pay their volunteers as well.

My only worry now is that NKF will no longer be as aggresive as they were, and that the current commitee will only aim to maintain their current standards. The thing is, many successful individuals have said this: there is no such thing as maintaining standards...because of the way nature works, you will either grow or stagnate.

let's see what happens then =\