I continue to receive calls from companies that represent themselves as raising funds for charities. This most recent call was from a company, Charitable Resource Group, out of Houston who said they were raising funds for Breast Cancer Survivors Foundation in Florida.

I asked a few questions and learned that a whopping 10 percent of my gift would go to the Breast Cancer Survivors Foundation. Checking online, I learned that the Foundation spent 29 percent of its budget on program services. This translates to $2.90 of a $100 gift making it into services.

If you want to help out a charity, donate directly. I can’t imagine giving $100 and having the solicitor keep $90 and the agency keeping $7.10 and the people I want to help get $2.90. I might as well drive down the street and toss money out the car window in hopes that at least $3 or $4 gets to someone that really needs it.

Locally, I would suggest the Butler County Humane Society for one, where your funds will go to very good use.