Indy - I got so tired of the way money was wasted by all the big charities I just stopped giving. Now it's all local, right down to the personal level... my sister in law's younger sister has cancer, so I send her money to help out with expenses. A friend from a motorcycling forum has a disabled daughter, I buy up fun stuff and send it along with some money to help out with her expenses. Local animal shelter needs supplies I buy a bunch and haul it over there. Just feels better to skip the "middle man".