Comments on: Light Up The Night – A $10,000 Wedding In Reverse

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 20:55:17 +0000

This is Dianne (happily of Dianne and Chuck) and I just want to say thank you so much, Meg, for sharing our story with your readers. And I have to say a grateful and heartfelt thank you to everyone who made a contribution this weekend to the Light the Night effort. I’m truly blessed by your kindness and care. May we all have weddings that celebrate life and love!

Dianne

PS – Anyone who is interested in reading more about our story is welcome to visit http://www.mywedding.com/dianneandchuck

By: Meg

Meg — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 11:33:30 +0000

Well Arnie, as a former nonprofit fundraiser, I hear what you are saying, though those numbers do not raise any large red flags to me. That said, I’m not sure this is quite the right way to respond to this couple’s choice of charity. They are giving with the best of intentions, and giving should always be encouraged, not discouraged. So, let’s drop the subject as unhelpful, and focus on the positive.

By: arnie draiman

arnie draiman — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 10:59:16 +0000

super excellent idea. just not sure about their choice of a tzedakah. i looked it up on charitynavigator and see that they have an annual budget of over $225,000,000 a year!

also, they employ more than 500 people full time, and another more than 100 part time.

their total management, administration, fundraising: $62,000,000 -- about 30% of their total budget.

and their excess for the year is over $4,000,000! excess!

and lastly, their director earns almost $500,000.

so, while i am sure that they do good work, i also believe that there are better recipients who would make this fantastic couple more proud.

$10,000 could be used in so many ways to make so many cancer people in need happy......

just my two shekels...

arnie draiman
www.draimanconsulting.com

By: Desaray

Desaray — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 20:22:28 +0000

well done, ms practical.

By: Tara

Tara — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 15:22:29 +0000

Done! Thanks for sharing this lovely project and giving us the opportunity to help…. When I think about all the purchases we justified because of the wedding (even a super-budget wedding like ours), a small donation was a no-brainer in comparison!

By: Genevieve

Genevieve — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 14:10:48 +0000

So touching! It sounds like my story. I was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Hodgkins lymphoma and I gave the guy I was dating a “not sure you want a date a girl with cancer” spiel. Afterward we both cried and he said, “You’re my friend, and I wouldn’t leave a friend at a time like this.” Four years and seven months later, we were married. So our wedding was a real celebration, of life, of survivorship and love and getting through all its tests. My best to this couple!

By: Cate Subrosa

Cate Subrosa — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 11:39:26 +0000

What a fantastic idea.

I try not think ‘can we afford this?’ but rather ‘does it make sense to spend this money in this way?’ and this is an excellent reminder of why the answer is so often no.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 11:23:05 +0000

Oh wow! What an awesome story. It brought a little tear to my eye because it was so beautiful and meaningful!! Seriously – thanks for sharing. And once again reminding us what all of it’s about. ;-)
Have a great weekend!

By: (wife.)

(wife.) — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 10:10:05 +0000

That is such a beautiful story. Thanks for sharing it, and also making the distinction between charity and tzedakah! I’ve always thought it’s a really lovely difference.