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Community Currents
Southwestern Jewish Press, March 16, 1951,  page 2

By Albert Hutler, Executive Director, United Jewish Fund

This column normally concerns itself with philanthropic organizational life of the community; trends throughout the country in Jewish social welfare; the executive director's interpretation of events in that field, and the local community. However I'd like to have you bear with me today while I discuss with you question of the many solicitations that take place in the Jewish community. Let's put it under the headline, "Get the Facts Before You Give."  a few weeks ago five men were arrested in New York City on charges of operating a "boiler room"—racket term for promoting non-existent charities, or for appeals where most of the money goes to the promoter. This brought to the fore once again the question of dishonest appeals, and use of letterhead committees. San Diego, like other communities, has been subjected to fly by night raids of fund solicitors whose campaigns were not recognized or authorized by any of the central offices such as the Jewish Agency for Palestine, or the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds. We're fortunate in San Diego in that we have a city ordinance which provides for the licensing of all campaigns, and "any cost in excess of 35 percent of the amount collected is deemed unreasonable unless special facts are presented to justify higher costs. Our law enforcement agencies are prepared to deal with racketeers who trade on the normal generous impulse of well-meaning persons. What is important, however, is the fact that there are many fringe causes as well as appeals of dubious merit, and we owe it to ourselves, as well as to the good causes, to investigate carefully before we contribute to drives whose purposes are questionable. How can you be sure that the cause for which you are giving, working or lending our name is on the up and up? Call the office of the United Jewish Fund which maintains a file on hundreds of organizations, and they will tell you the facts without making a recommendation. If the information is not immediately available the office will secure it for you through the Jewish Agency for Palestine or the Council of Federations and Welfare Funds, and ask the solicitor if the organization has a license to solicit funds in San Diego. But if there is the slightest doubt in your mind—get the facts before you lend your name or give your money.