UILD
B
OUR CITY
The secret is out – Houston is the coolest city in America.
People from all around want to join the fun, too, and they are in
droves. We have already grown by 40,000 new residents since the
latest census just three years ago — from 2.1 million to 2.16 million
— and we’re just getting warmed up. Experts think that by 2020 our
population will be up to 2.5 million.
Being cool has its costs, though.
Along with this rising tide of popularity, there is a similar surge in
the call for aid. Our outstanding local charities are expanding services,
programs, and resources as fast as they can, but at times it seems like
they are losing ground.
With your help we can keep up with the increasing need.
I know that our social ills are no match for our collective generosity,
and I can tell you that the city of Houston’s CMC is the perfect vehicle
for your contributions. If each city employee gave just $2 a paycheck,
the cost of a fountain drink, we’d raise more than $1 million. For the
cost of an iced latte, or $4 a paycheck, we’d raise more than $2 million.
That’s money that would go a long way toward feeding the hungry,
giving people a place to sleep, helping someone attain new job skills
to gain employment, giving aid to families in need and making Houston
an even better place to live.
There is something every bit as valuable as your financial contributions;
that is your time and energy. The local charities the CMC supports can
use that too.
Houston is on the move. Let’s not leave anyone behind. Let’s all lend a
hand, give just a little, and take everyone along with us. Let’s continue
to Build Our City.
Mayor Annise Parker
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Tribute: Build Our City CMC 2014 - www.houstonCMC.org
An informed donor makes
smart choices. Here are some
websites that will help you
learn more about giving.
Want to know how a charity
spends its money but are afraid
to ask? Don’t be.
Donors care about the
community they live in that’s why
they participate in the CMC. So it
only makes sense that they also
want to know how their money
will be spent.
Most agencies post financial
information for donors on their
websites. A list of CMC charities
with links to their sites can be
found at www.houstoncmc.org.
Federal Trade Commission
Provides information on
wise giving and how to file a
complaint.
www.ftc.gov/charityfraud
IRS
Search charitable
organizations for tax
information.
www.irs.gov
Charity Watch
Tips for giving wisely and other
helpful hints.
www.charitywatch.org
GuideStar
Information on more than
1 million nonprofits. Also,
important questions to ask
yourself if you can’t decide on
a charity.
www.guidestar.org
Charity Navigator
Evaluates the financial health
of America’s largest charities.
www.charitynavigator.org