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Charity Refuses Donation Because of D&D Connection

Posted by samzenpus on from the tainted-money dept.

An anonymous reader writes "This year's GenCon Charity Auction raised over $17,000 which they intended to donate to Gary Gygax's favorite charity, Christian Children's Fund. However, the charity refused the donation when they learned of its connection to Dungeons & Dragons." It seems to me all they would need to do is cast remove curse or dispel evil and the money would be fine to use.

27 of 216 comments (clear)

  1. Advanced Bad & Summary by RobertB-DC · · Score: 5, Informative

    In their rush to paint Christians as idiots, the editors failed to notice this addendum to TFA:

    Christian Children's Fund made the decision to decline the gift from Gen Con, LLC as the request presented to us gave the appearance that CCF (the organization) was an endorser or supporter of a gaming convention, which CCF was not. As many non-profit organizations, CCF is selective in its endorsements or support in order to maintain the integrity of its name and logo. We cannot lend our name to an event for which we have no involvement. This decision should in no way be interpreted as CCF holding an opinion on Mr. Gygax, gaming enthusiasts or the game Dungeons and Dragons.

    Some of my fellow faith-mates do make the rest of us look pretty silly. But the non-religious folks apparently have a knee-jerk reaction that would make Dr. Dobson proud.

    --
    Stressed? Me? Of course not. Stress is what a rubber band feels before it breaks, silly.
    1. Re:Advanced Bad & Summary by Jonah+Hex · · Score: 4, Funny

      I am so glad that they have a reasonable reason for doing this. I was a victim of my grandmother taking away my AD&D books back in the 90's due to the 700 Club helpfully telling her they would allow me to summon a demon from hell or force me to kill myself when my alternate persona died.
       
      Jonah HEX

      --
      Horror & SciFi Erotic Nudes
    2. Re:Advanced Bad & Summary by JoshuaZ · · Score: 5, Interesting

      It might at first glance seem like a reasonable explanation but it doesn't hold water. They have had no problem in the past accepting money from businesses or events.

    3. Re:Advanced Bad & Summary by ratboy666 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      CCF is not a sponsor. They are the sponsored charity. No endorsement from CCF was needed. Well... a simple "thank you" would have sufficed.

      *They* decided to turn down the gift, which CAN be interpreted as having such an opinion.

      So CCF had to back-pedal, and release an announcement about how to interpret the decision. Meh. Too late, the dunderheads have spoken very loudly with their actions.

      --
      Just another "Cubible(sic) Joe" 2 17 3061
    4. Re:Advanced Bad & Summary by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      Hush you zealot! Your fundamentalist ramblings aren't welcome here; for this is Slashdot bastion of reason and impartiality.

      To arms!

    5. Re:Advanced Bad & Summary by GooberToo · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Christian Children's Fund made the decision to decline the gift from Gen Con, LLC as the request presented to us gave the appearance that CCF (the organization) was an endorser or supporter of a gaming convention, which CCF was not.

      Therefore, anyone they do accept money from, they are endorsing. Interesting. Sure makes you wanna know who's been donating.

    6. Re:Advanced Bad & Summary by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Do you now have a set of dice lovingly carved from her bones?

    7. Re:Advanced Bad & Summary by Rycross · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Well, the difference here is that they feel that the donation implies their endorsement, while other donations might carry no such implication. Its perfectly valid for a charity to be careful about what they appear to endorse. They've explicitly stated that it has nothing to do with D&D, so why not take their words at face value? Whats the harm? That we can't get worked up into an "OMG Christians!" fervor?

    8. Re:Advanced Bad & Summary by Rycross · · Score: 4, Insightful

      No, this particular donation appeared to imply an endorsement. They're in no way saying that every donation received implies an endorsement. Why they feel that way is probably related to the detail of how the funds were raised and donated (as in, I'm not a lawyer so I wouldn't know).

    9. Re:Advanced Bad & Summary by Inner_Child · · Score: 5, Insightful

      You should really check out some of the Chick religious tracts surrounding gaming and witchcraft. I really don't think I've ever laughed that hard before in my life.

      --
      Today is red jello day - all workers must eat all of their red jello. Failure to comply will result in five demerits.
    10. Re:Advanced Bad & Summary by krgallagher · · Score: 4, Interesting
      "*They* decided to turn down the gift, which CAN be interpreted as having such an opinion."

      You know, they are a private charity and are free to any opinion and action they wish as long as they do not infringe on the rights of others. People have a bad case of "I want to do what I want and I want you to do what I want" these days. Gen Con, LLC should donate the money to some other worthwhile charity and "Get Over Themselves!"

      --

      Insert Generic Sig Here:

    11. Re:Advanced Bad & Summary by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      That would be this one.

    12. Re:Advanced Bad & Summary by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      Grampa?

    13. Re:Advanced Bad & Summary by Rakishi · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Gen Con, LLC should donate the money to some other worthwhile charity and "Get Over Themselves!"

      They did, your point was what again?

      You know, they are a private charity and are free to any opinion and action they wish as long as they do not infringe on the rights of others.

      And others are perfectly free to call them idiots for it. Or does freedom of opinion only go one way?

    14. Re:Advanced Bad & Summary by Spacejock · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I used to run D&D sessions in lunchtimes at school, back in the 80s. They got more and more popular until a dozen or so of my fellow students would gather in the classroom to get involved in my latest effort. Then the PTA got wind of it, the school banned it, and the kids went back to doing nothing much at all. (To add insult to injury, we were only playing Basic & Expert D&D. I tried to explain it wasn't 'The devil worshipping one' but they weren't buying it.)

      --
      Hal Spacejock: Science Fiction with Nuts
    15. Re:Advanced Bad & Summary by aussie_a · · Score: 4, Funny

      How the fuck was she killing zombies without a DM?

    16. Re:Advanced Bad & Summary by HiVizDiver · · Score: 3, Funny

      You owe me a new monitor + keyboard.

    17. Re:Advanced Bad & Summary by Artifakt · · Score: 3, Informative

      For any non-profit that wishes to preserve 501 status and such under the U S legal code, there are big differences in how to handle money that comes from a private person, another non-profit or a for profit entity. There are also some differences in what has to be done if money was raised by a non-profit organization with an advance agreement, or if it wasn't. This sounds like the convention either advertised that membership would help some money go to the CCF without having an advance agreement, or that there's an issue with whether the convention itself is a non-profit entity, in the full, liscensed, legal sense.
                If the CCF doesn't act this way, they can do more than risk tarnishing their image. They can even lose their legal status as a non-profit. One result of this would be that any retirement funds their employees have set up (403-B's), even if funded all with the employee's own money, aren't legitimate, and all those employees would owe back taxes and penalties and interest on those taxes, for at least the last year, maybe longer. Another result is that the CCF could be sued for back wages 'owed' people who were unpaid volunteers. A third is that they would have to meet equal opportunity hiring guidelines for all those 'employees', and since they probably have no records of having ever given their management staff the necessary guidance as to conducting mandatory nondiscriminatory employee evaluations for those volunteers, they would automatically be guilty under law of discrimination should even a single person bring suit.
            Since it was set up as a non-profit, the CCF has probably not incorporated under the rules of a corp friendly state such as Delaware. They might even face such lawsuits in a state such as New York or California.
            But go ahead, people, make this all about nasty Christians who hate your hobby.
       

      --
      Who is John Cabal?
    18. Re:Advanced Bad & Summary by KGIII · · Score: 3, Funny

      I take it that they failed the save vs. liquid?

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    19. Re:Advanced Bad & Summary by Drakkenmensch · · Score: 3, Funny
      My mother sat me down one day when I was very young and spent along time telling me about the movie she saw the night before of kids playing this 'evil game' that leads some of them to kill themselves, and that I must never, EVER play that game. Naturally, I simply HAD to find out what this incredible "Dungeons and Dragons" she warned was all about.

      So in short, if my mom hadn't forbidden me to play it, it would have taken me at least another 10-15 years to find out about it. I credit my mother for giving me such an early head start in my roleplaying career!

  2. This summary is already out of date by mothrsuperior · · Score: 4, Informative

    From the link:
     

    Edit: In response to complaints received, people have been receiving the following explanatory letter.

            Christian Childrenâ(TM)s Fund made the decision to decline the gift from Gen Con, LLC as the request presented to us gave the appearance that CCF (the organization) was an endorser or supporter of a gaming convention, which CCF was not. As many non-profit organizations, CCF is selective in its endorsements or support in order to maintain the integrity of its name and logo. We cannot lend our name to an event for which we have no involvement. This decision should in no way be interpreted as CCF holding an opinion on Mr. Gygax, gaming enthusiasts or the game Dungeons and Dragons.

    (Emphasis in bold supplied by me.) At first, I was upset because I thought they were rejecting the money because of its association with D&D. I have changed my position. I have worked with charities and in fact many of them (particularly large ones) have very specific rules about events they will sponsor. Many charities will not sponsor any event that they don't manage themselves. There are many reasons for this and very few of them will have anything to do with moral condemnation of the event organizer.

    Nothing to see hear, Move along.

  3. After Reading TFA by stoolpigeon · · Score: 3, Informative

    Just to be clear - they did not turn it down because of the D&D connection but because of policies in place about how they filter the funds they take that may make them appear to endorse events they do not control. This is completely normal and sensible. I am sure they would love to have the money - but they aren't going to put themselves into a position that violates policies put into place for a good reason. And to save you the time of a click and page load:
      Christian Childrenâ(TM)s Fund made the decision to decline the gift from Gen Con, LLC as the request presented to us gave the appearance that CCF (the organization) was an endorser or supporter of a gaming convention, which CCF was not. As many non-profit organizations, CCF is selective in its endorsements or support in order to maintain the integrity of its name and logo. We cannot lend our name to an event for which we have no involvement. This decision should in no way be interpreted as CCF holding an opinion on Mr. Gygax, gaming enthusiasts or the game Dungeons and Dragons.

    --
    It's hard to believe that's how Micronians are made. Why don't we see it right now by having you both kiss one another?
  4. Give it to someone else. by ouphie · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Hell, send the money to Child's Play. Great cause and run by gamers.

  5. Mods + spawns = creationism by sinij · · Score: 4, Funny

    D&D supports creationism, why else would monsters get spawned? They are not evolved, but just appear in spots = intelligent design.

  6. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  7. Ron Paul would have taken it by EEBaum · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I'm reminded of reporters slamming Ron Paul for taking money from white supremacists. He defended the action, his rationale being along the lines of "better I use it for my message than them for their white supremacy."

    --
    -- I prefer the term "karma escort."
  8. Re:ERROR CODE: ID10T by scottblascocomposer · · Score: 4, Insightful

    You forgot one:

    An atheist on Slashdot is characterized by their remarkable ability to build and knock down ridiculous straw men for a religion of which they remain willfully and almost entirely ignorant, and yet continue to claim rationality as their guiding light.

    A similar level of ignorance of any other subject on which one would claim to speak intelligibly would rightly result in that person laughed out of the room. Only here can we be so anal about parsing code correctly in joke posts and yet admire ourselves for so completely misunderstanding and misrepresenting all religious belief, belief which has claimed the adherence of many of the greatest minds the world has known.

    Paint 'em all dumb, I guess, if it allows me to feel special and earn the fleeting respect of my fellow /.ers.

    --
    To reign is to serve.