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Looking for a good Prostate Cancer Cause to share royalties

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Posted 5/29/2012 8:00 PM (GMT 0)
When I found out my latest book was getting published, I decided in advance, to donate 25% of any royalties to a good PC research group or outfit.  I will do this when I get my first quarterly royalty check in about 4 months from now.

Problem I have, is I really don't know who could best use the funding.  I read many of the same sites and on-line groups as most of you do.  The only one I won't (and haven't for some time) give money to any more, is the Amercian Cancer Society.  Had enough of them and their tactics.  I was loyal to them for so many years.

So I throw the question in the air, what are some names of really good and beneficial prostate cancer research groups that I could trust donating money to?  I am open minded on this and could use some suggestions.  Want to make sure its for something that will really put money to use, and not use it heavily for their admin operations or advertising.

So how about some suggestions from the crowd.  If you make a suggestion(s), please tell me why you favor it, or perhaps some dealings with it from your past.

David in SC

Posted 5/29/2012 8:02 PM (GMT 0)
Good question.

What about HW?

Mel

Posted 5/29/2012 9:06 PM (GMT 0)
David,

Charitynavigator.org gives ratings of various charities that you might find helpful.  I can't vouch for their accuracy, but they seem convincing.

I'm always floored when I get to the section "Compensation of Leaders" (e.g., CEO's).

 

Post Edited (clocknut) : 5/29/2012 3:09:47 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 5/29/2012 10:03 PM (GMT 0)
For education itself, nothing approach's what we have here at Healing Well. I feel sure Peter would be much appreciative and the money could be put to good use.
Posted 5/30/2012 12:16 AM (GMT 0)
James,

I should have added on my own, that HW and Peter, is already on my list to donate, but I am talking about PC specific research groups or entities in particular. HW is the only forumn I would consider donating money too, I still feel that HW is the best of the best there. I also have high regards to Yana as well, but rarely post there anymore, and haven't even updated my profile there in a long time, I need to do that.

david
Posted 5/30/2012 1:03 AM (GMT 0)
David,

How about if we look in the past and see what research group has brought the best to PC patients in the past 10 years.  What major breakthroughs, etc... have come about in the last 10 years and what group aided with research or whatever to bring it to reality.

Just saying, why not give to a proven winner.

Jerry L.

Posted 5/30/2012 2:23 AM (GMT 0)
how about this group: http://www.pcf.org

I don't know much about them but I've been following them on twitter for a few months and they seem like a group to look at.

Andrew
Posted 5/30/2012 2:51 AM (GMT 0)
Jerry L - excellent suggestion, do you have anyone or any group in mind that fits that criteria?

intheshop - pcf.org is one that i have followed on and off, got pretty good feelings about them

david
Posted 5/30/2012 3:17 AM (GMT 0)
Hey, David, I just bought your book on Kindle and have started to read. Wonderful ! ! I am not surprised that you're such a good story teller and writer. With royalties going to two worthy causes --- i.e. Purgatory and a PCa cause -- I almost wish I'd had to pay more for it, lol At the give away Kindle price, it's a steal.

What puzzles me is how you found time between 14,716 posts to HW, and all you've been dealing with, to write such a book!

Sheldon AKA Sleepless
Posted 5/30/2012 3:30 AM (GMT 0)
Gee, Sheldon, you made my head swell, lol, now none of my hats will fit my big head. That manuscript was actually completed in November of 2007, a full year before my PC diagnosis. I wrote the book in less than 6 months, while working steady 55-60 work weeks at the time. Just something I do in my spare time.

Honestly don't write for the money, if so, would have starved to death like most artist do in the end. I write to write, if someone else likes it, fine, if not, that's fine also.

Some of my long term fans were disapointed with this book, as they were hoping I would continue that entire historic-romance theme that was the basis of the first 2 books. They are not so much into this darker material, or the supernatural/horror genere of books. But hey, I am the writer, that part is my choice, lol.

Getting ready to start another dark book, perhaps that's how I get some of this PC stuff out of my mind and soul, a form of release perhaps.

david
Posted 5/30/2012 4:10 AM (GMT 0)
Not that you can't donate to HealingWell, and I think it's fine idea--but it's not a charity. It's a limited-liability corporation (LLC) and Peter is the CEO. I don't think my opinion is worth much around here, but if I were in your shoes I would probably donate to HealingWell.com, the Prostate Cancer Foundation (good ratings, but you may not like their PSA recommendations, which are in line with the AUA/NCCN but not USPTF), or David Emerson's Faith, Hope, Love, Win (http://flhw.org/) charity. David's group does support PCF, I believe. I know there are a lot of PCa heroes, including you, Purg. David Emerson is another, in my opinion.

If you would like to share royalties with a decently rated charity that is very pro-screening, I would suggest Zero - the Project to End Prostate Cancer (zerocancer.org) that has tested over 110,000 men in mobile units. They estimate they have saved 12,000 lives. US Too would be another possibility in that category.
Posted 5/30/2012 4:26 AM (GMT 0)
Galileo,

What a great bunch of suggestions, very well put together, left me a lot to think about. David Emerson is a true warriror, I can hardly put myself in his category, I have the highest regards for him. You got me really interested in the zerocancer.org idea, wasn't aware of them or their mission. I am a big believer in testing, and if it were up to me, all men would be tested, and money shouldn't stop anyone from being tested. I will look into what they do, based on what you said, I am highly impressed with those kinds of numbers. There are local hospital groups in my area, that do limited free and low cost testing, but its only about once or twice a year at best, and I am not sure how effective their outreach is. I know in my area, they target African-American neighborhoods in paritcular.

THanks for your inspiring tips, got me interested.

David in SC
Posted 5/30/2012 5:36 AM (GMT 0)
David,
There's three ways to look at PCa and donating.

#1> Research. The #1 organization for research is the Prostate Cancer Foundation. Their Scientific Retreat is a fantastic event that attracts some of the best minds in the world. Also PCF does some cool things in sports, at our grocers in June, and at general awareness. (Dan Zenka no need to comment, I gotcha!)

#2> Patient Support. UsTOO and sites like this one. I like UsTOO but I'm biased. LOL, My chapter has 2k in the bank. We're actually a very self supported group that does well.

#3> Advocacy. It's a toss up. I work with ZERO-The Prostate to End Prostate Cancer. I'll be back in DC this year in September.

All of that said, I myself donate time. It's a far more valuable commodity that cash. The rewards are great. If I was to donate money it would likely be to childhood cancers research or general cancer research. But I do say yes at the grocer in June to donate money. We usually give about a hundred in June and this effort is cool because the money goes to PCF and Von's also contributes with your donation.

Just a moderator note: Asking for donations and fundraising are not allowed here at HW. I made various suggestions of all good organizations. And there are more. To be fair, to all we just can't solicit for any of them a donation or do fundraising.


Tony
Posted 5/30/2012 5:42 AM (GMT 0)
Just a thought...
If you are not worried about a tax deduction, why not considered some of the smaller guys who are, say... trying to light up their courthouse in blue for "Prostate Cancer Awareness" month.

But, then again... I think awareness is the first step in helping people with this beast.

Might also be rewarding in the sense that you would get to see what you helped make possible.

Probably way off base from your original thoughts, but figured I throw it out there.

Also, please send me the name of your book so I can get it. The last two, as well!
Posted 5/30/2012 5:56 AM (GMT 0)
Tony, some good leads from you as well. Thought about the rules here, but I am not asking for money, quite the opposite, planning on giving away, not taking. I wish UsToo wasn't so weak in my area, but I am not in a physical position to organize or start a better unit, but wish there was one.

Msworry - some good suggestions for you too. With me and donations, different than many folks, when my wife and I donate, we never give or use our names, and I never take a tax receipt, this is just a personal conviction (not judgemental) but I don't feel like I gave anything, if I am looking fo anything out of it for myself, i.e. tax receipt.

Current book - Cold Spots, former titles are Crystal Dreams and Burning Ice.

thanks

david
Posted 5/30/2012 7:03 AM (GMT 0)
How wonderful that you wish to contribute to a worthwhile organization.  Sounds like you operate in a "Pay Forward" mode by not revealing your name.  Have you ever thought of writing about Time Travel?
Posted 5/30/2012 12:52 PM (GMT 0)
thanks, aimzee. nah, not into Sci-Fi. Not sure what you meant by "pay forward", can you explain please?

david
Posted 5/30/2012 2:49 PM (GMT 0)
David, I just downloaded Cold Spots to my Kindle Fire, and will begin reading it tomorrow while waiting for my 4 1/2 year Pca check up. The practice that I use has moved into a new building, and now does the PSA testing in house, the same day of your visit. Although they have assured me that thay have calibrated their machine to the same standards of the old lab, I am a little worried about the results.

I hope that your Doctor will soon find the right combination to alleviate your constant pain. Have you thought about writing a medical thriller like Robin Cook, with the wealth of experience you have had, it would be very realistic!

Beachbum
Posted 5/30/2012 7:18 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks, David!

And, yes, I fully agree with your thoughts on donations. I call it "from the heart and not heroic." :)
Posted 5/30/2012 8:08 PM (GMT 0)
I'd donate to a non-profit that was dealing with patient support. A lot of these non-profits don't receive much funding and could really use your donation.

If you want to donate to research, try to find ways to donate to basic scientific research. The discoveries that they make are important, but it takes so long to commercialize that there isn't much money in it.

I've looked at prostate cancer research non-profits and haven't been too impressed. The CEOs of these organization make over a million dollars a year. Sometimes much more than that. I'm not sure how you can pay the CEO so much and have such a high rating for the charity. The real heavy lifting is being done by the companies that get new therapies approved by the FDA. Research is supposed to be non-profit, but ultimately the therapies that get approved are run by companies that are for-profit. I think there is a bit of a disconnect here. If you were really greedy, you'd be able to find a way to make money off this. So really the question is, are the people in charge of this non-profit of high moral character? I'll leave that up to the reader to decide. I wish I could share more positive information with you, but that's what I found in a nutshell.
Posted 5/30/2012 9:00 PM (GMT 0)
Hey David,

No suggestions. A great gesture on your part.

Having said that, hope your book sells a million.

Mike

Posted 5/31/2012 1:25 AM (GMT 0)
beachbum, thanks, and no, never thought of doing medical type novels, I think the writer Cook has that entire market wrapped up. even though my 4 cancer journeys have been twisted, i think even i would be bored if i had to read all about them, lol. plus i don't have the medical knowledge to make it believable. good thought though

thanks, msworrywart

ranch, that is good info really on the subject, no, i don't want to contibute money to men who are already rich off of our cancers, i want the money to be used by those in the trenches, actually helping real people dealing with this stuff. thanks.

mike, my friend, while sales on the first 2 books have been sluggish, amazed that a 10-12 novel from an unknown like me is still selling after all these years. i have better hopes for this book, though realistic ones, my real goal is to see a movie production firm get interested. i just enjoy the writing part to be honest, if good fortune happens, then so be it, if not, that is ok too.

david
Posted 5/31/2012 1:31 PM (GMT 0)
David,
"Pay It Forward" - a move and a book. To best describe what it means you should read or see it. Paying Forward is doing something good for someone, not expecting anything in return, and that person in turn does something good for someone else, thus paying it forward. Keeps on going endlessly.
It's a good way to live.
Zimac
Posted 5/31/2012 2:39 PM (GMT 0)
zimac,

think i am actually blushing. i rarely get the obvious in life, lol. didn't know that term referred to a movie and a book, to be honest, never heard of it before. but it makes sense now. in my mind, i was trying to figure out what kind of complicated thing it could be.

serioiusly, and there is no right or wrong here, just personal preferences, but when we give, whether it be to a church, or any other type of donation, we never use our name, and never ask for a tax receipt. we honestly don't feel the full gift of "giving" if there is any strings attached. sure, i lose out on tax write-offs that way, but that's ok.

back in the days when i made lots of money, i would help out all kind of people in need, but it was always with this condition, that the money was a gift, and that i wouldn't take any kind of re-payment in the future. i told people, that they could always take the money they would have used to pay back the money, to help someone else in return. doesn't make me special, just how i like to do things.

david
Posted 5/31/2012 2:58 PM (GMT 0)
good idea too, golf, but i already do that privately, and helped several PC brothers out at the personal level. Looking for some official cause to funnel some money towards.

david
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