ALS Association, Don’t Waste this Opportunity

I have a different perspective on charitable organizations than most. My first job at 13 years old was cold calling for charities. I would sit in a smoke-filled room dialing lists (phone book, past donors) for hours. I hadn’t hit puberty yet so most prospects would call me ma'am. I got more donations when they thought I was a female, so I ran with it. The owner of my company drove a new Ferrari. His 19-year-old son, who ran my office, also drove a Ferrari (one of his dad's old ones). They would ask the police or a charity in the town if they could raise money for them (say $10,000) and if they raised $40,000, they kept the difference. I started to see how easy it was to use people's good nature to raise money for purely selfish reasons and I developed a healthy distrust of charitable organizations.

Hospitals Are Not Getting Safer

<I'm now writing some articles for Risk & Insurance magazine that readers of my blog may find of interest.  Periodically, I will post links to them here:
Hospitals Are Not Getting Safer.>

Read more at Risk & Insurance »

Smiles and Hugs Matter

This is the heartwarming story of a young man who started his own restaurant.  That, in and of itself, is a nice accomplishment.  Tim is his name.  However, what makes the story truly amazing and touching, though, is that Tim has Down’s syndrome.