Award recognizes charities that utilize the highest percentage of funds for their mission
Chapin, SC (James Bowers) - Chapin’s We Care Center received a great honor Wednesday when South Carolina Secretary of State Mark Hammond listed the interfaith outreach organization on his “Angels of The Year” list. The distinction was created to honor charities that use at least 80 percent of their donated funding in fulfilling their mission. This is opposed to other expenditures such as administrative expenses, staff salaries, and material goods for use only by the organization’semployees.
Chapin We Care center reported that 93.4% of its funds were returned to charitable activities such as providing food and utilities to financially troubled individuals and families. The center, which calls itself an “interfaith community outreach,” also provides resources for the pursuit of education and employment by its beneficiaries.
The “Angel of the Year” list was created in 1995, with the passage of the Solicitation of Charitable Funds Act in South Carolina. The law was introduced in response to the fact that the holidays see an increase in charitable donations, and dubious individuals often see an opportunity to take advantage of people’s giving spirit. The secretary of state’s office created the AOTY list to recognize top rated charities, as well a list of “scrooges,” or charities that donate the fewest funds to their beneficiaries. In those cases, they spend more money on non-philanthropic materials and activities. The lists are intended to help kind donors choose the right organization to give their funds to, and recognize charities and fundraisers that do the right thing with their money. In the words of Secretary of State Hammond: “I have continued this tradition of recognizing angels and scrooges not only to raise donor awareness, but also to acknowledge and offer gratitude to those charities that do so much to help those in need. I encourage all South Carolinians to continue to uplift communities with their generosity, but to always research charities and professional fundraisers before they give.”
Donors can review organizations by accessing the official Secretary of State website at www.sos.sc.gov, and utilizing the “Charity Search” feature to view details about organizations’ revenue, program and total expenses, assets, and fundraiser costs. These statistics make it easy for donors to make the right choice regarding charitable giving.
The Chapin We Care Center is located at 1800 Chapin Road in Chapin. To find out how you can help, visit chapinwecare.org or call (803) 345-3244.
