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Charities

Charity comes from a word which means loving and caring for others. Its dictionary definition is An institution, organization, or fund established to help the needy. Charities can also be called non-profit organizations (abbreviated as NPOs),meaning that they dont make a profit for themselves in the way that a business does. In the past, charity was about looking after those who were less well off, and some of the earliest charities were set up to give money or food to the poor in their neighborhood.These days helping the needy in the community is still an important idea for many charities, but they do a whole range of other things too. Many charities, rather than giving out aid, try to work with poor people to help them survive independently. Charities like Oxfam help starving families by providing them with seeds, tools and animals such as goats, so that they can grow their own food and produce milk to sell.

Other organizations like Camfed (Campaign for Female Education) raise money so that African girls can go to school and have an education, giving them a better chance of a future free from poverty. Groups like Make Poverty History carry out whats known as campaigning. This means that they try to deal with the things that cause poverty in the first place. They do this by putting pressure on governments around the world to change their laws and policies, to give poor people a fairer deal. The American Cancer Society pays for research into cures and treatments for cancer. It also offers counselling and information to people with cancer and their families. Some groups like Greenpeace concentrate on global issues like protecting the planet and preventing people from damaging it, to make sure that we all have somewhere safe and clean to live. Charities do not always deal with poverty, disease or emergencies. Sometimes they simply improve the quality of life for everyone. Examples might be organizations for the arts such as the American Arts Alliance,museums, or charities that preserve historic buildings. Like everyone else, charities have to pay for the goods they buy and the services they use to do their work. They need a regular income to pay for their supplies, staff, training, transport, printing costs and many other expenses. Some charities receive money from the government, but many rely on the publics generosity to support their work.

Fundraising involves asking members of the public or companies to give money tosupport the organization. This is known as a donation and people who give money tocharities are called donors.

Charities fundraise by: Asking people or companies for donations using mail, telephone calls, email, SMS or shaking collecting tins in the street Advertising on TV, radio, in newspapers and magazines, on posters and billboards or on-line Selling merchandise such as second-hand goods, Christmas cards, raffle tickets and T-shirts Organizing events like sponsored walks, parachute jumps, charity balls, concerts or quiz nights Asking people to become members of the organization by paying a subscription fee The reasons why people give money to charities are varied. Answers could include: Wanting to help people in need and make a difference Being upset by a picture, e.g. of a starving child or abused animal Personal experience, e.g. if they or a relative has an illness or disability Being impressed by the work of the charity Guilt because they are well-off compared to most of the world Donors often get something in return from giving to charity, as well as the satisfaction of having helped. This could include: A chance to try something different and meet new people (e.g. in the case of sponsored events) Membership benefits, including regular newsletters, updates on research (especially important for medical charities) and invitations to concerts or special events Small gifts such as badges, stickers and pens

1 A synonym of charity is ------------------------------------------------------------------ , abbreviated as ----------------2 Write the name of the charities mentioned in the text. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3 Match up the charity with its area of work. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Animal Rights

Arts/Heritage

Babies/Children

Education

Emergency Aid

Human Rights

Medical Care/Research

Nature/Environment

4 How do charities fundraise? Match Asking people or companies Selling Organizing Asking people events to become members for donations merchandise

5 Tick the reasons why people donate to charity. They want to help people They feel guilty They dont know what to do with their money. They admire the work done by the charities They want to get a free gift They have undergone a similar experience

6 Write in the appropriate colum.

the needy the poor

less well-off poor `people

starving child wealthy

poverty

well-off

POOR

RICH

7 Write the appropriate word.


STARVING CHILD COLLECTING TIN

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