When asked to participate as a volunteer board member for the SMALL MIRACLES FOUNDATION, I readily accepted out of friendship and civic duty. It has since become so much more. At the onset, My experience was very limited, but after two years on the board I have learned a great deal about charities in general. One of the FIRST things I discovered was that the percent of overhead speaks clearly about the charity itself. In most circles, a 40% overhead is considered good, a portion of that being salaries. The SMALL MIRACLES FOUNDATION can boast an only 2 to 3% overhead (97/98% of funds received are available to the mission) and a COMPLETELY VOLUNTEER board. I believe that to be EXCEPTIONAL. The SMALL MIRACLES FOUNDATION can also claim to have a PHENOMENAL response time to requests received. After receiving a request and reviewing it, the payment is generally made within 24 to 72 hours. And, at least on two occasions, has been made, due to extreme circumstances, within 1 to 2 hours. There is no waiting for a monthly or quarterly board meeting to discuss and review a request...With the use of fax and e-mail, the ALL VOLUNTEER board can review and vote immediately. And, if necessary, a request payment can be made over the phone. The requests received at the SMALL MIRACLES FOUNDATION are wide ranging and generally accepted. The foundation has covered the transportation costs of a grandmother, unable to drive, taking her granddaughter to the hospital for treatments....It has purchased a wig for a teen girl who lost her hair during chemo therapy...It has covered the rent for a single mother having to take a leave from work while staying by her young son's bedside during his hospital stay. It has covered pharmacy and medical costs, car payments, utility bills, and so many more daily expenses that seem monumental when facing the heartbreak and stress of a child diagnosed with cancer. The SMALL MIRACLES FOUNDATION is indeed a UNIQUE and EXCEPTIONAL charity. It is proudly able to claim EXTRAORDINARY benefits to those in need.
Review from Guidestar
Guidestar Health Giveaway NOMINATING SMALL MIRACLES FOUNDATION (501(c) (3) OF OREGON) SUPPORTING FAMILIES OF CHILDREN WITH CANCER SMALL MIRACLES FOUNDATION’S ACTUAL ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS ARE LESS THAN THREE-PERCENT (-3%) OF TOTAL $BUDGET... OR... MORE DRAMATICALLY....AT LEAST 97%... (AS OF MID-JUNE 2010) GOES TO FAMILIES OF CHILDREN WITH CANCER !!!!!!!!! “The Easiest Thing To Do For A Charity... Is To Write A Check” “The Most Difficult Thing To Do For A Charity... Is To Devote The Personal Time And Energy To PROPERLY Administer The Daily, Mundane, Avoid Improprieties, Always Aware & Sensitive... To Perception Of Conduct To Maintain Non-Profit Compliance. POTENTIAL RECIPIENTS ARE SUBMITTED AND RECOMMENDED BY A NETWORK OF QUALIFIED, RESPECTED, PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL WORKERS. IT IS THEN THE DUTY OF THE SMF BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO Measure The Impact Of Good, Thoroughly Review Each Recommended Request For Assistance For Validity, As Well As The Practical Aspects Of “Getting The Most Bang For The Buck” Resulting In Really Helping Someone In Need. NO RUBBER STAMPING, OFTEN HAVING TO MAKE BLUNT, DIFFICULT DECISIONS AS TO THE VALIDITY AND REAL NEED. KEEP IN MIND...THIS FOUNDATION’S “AID TO FAMILIES”...WAS CONCEIVED...AND ESTABLISHED...YEARS PRIOR TO...THE CURRENT ECONOMIC MALAISE CONFRONTING THE AVERAGE AMERICAN FAMILY. What About Families That Do Not Have Spare Resources? Any Additional Costs, Regardless Of The Amount, Are Daunting And “Huge”, Especially Single Parent Situations THIS “LABOR-OF-LOVE” CONCEIVED AND FOUNDED BY A CANCER SURVIVOR. Born As The Result Of Founder’s Personal Experiences And Observations Going Through Diagnosis, Treatment, And Post Treatment. SHORTLY FOLLOWING HER OWN CANCER TRAUMA, SHE WAS ALMOST A DAILY WITNESS TO THE EXCRUCIATING CANCER TRIBULATIONS OF ONE OF HER BEAUTIFUL GRAND-DAUGHTERS 11 YEAR-OLD LAUREN PAIGE SMALL, HENCE WHEN ALL THINGS WERE CONSIDERED, THE FOUNDATION WAS APPROPRIATELY... CHRISTENED, “SMALL MIRACLES”. DAILY, NOT JUST ONCE IN AWHILE, NOT JUST FOR FUNDRAISERS, INTERVIEWS, ETC, THE BOARD IS ALWAYS ON ALERT FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO BENEFIT SMF. NON-PROFIT EXECUTIVES HAVE TOLD ME THAT BEING ABLE TO OPERATE AND ADMINISTER A PROGRAM AS AMBITIOUS AS SMALL MIRACLES FOUNDATION ON 3% IS PHENOMENAL. OUR FAMILY HAS CHOSEN TO SUPPORT SMF BY VOLUNTEERING AND WHEN THE OCCASION ARISES TO MEMORIALIZE OR AS A REMEMBRANCE, WE MAKE A CONTRIBUTION TO SMF AS A SPECIAL WAY TO PAY OUR RESPECT, CONFIDENT THAT THE PERSON WOULD INDEED, FEEL HONORED. WE ARE CERTAIN AND ASSURED THAT ANY...AND ALL...CONTRIBUTIONS WILL BE PUT TO ITS’ “HIGHEST AND BEST USE” BILL LEFTY AUCTIONEER A Supporter & Occasional Volunteer