More Groups That Are Young at Heart

Thank you for Irene Lacher’s spotlight on young adults’ charitable involvement (“Charities, Too, Search For a Young Look,” March 30). I’d like to add the New Friends of the Los Angeles Free Clinic to her list of charitable groups involving young people.

Too often, people of my age are characterized as apathetic and lacking the attention span or intellectual capacity to find out what’s going on around them. To the contrary, the thousands of twenty-somethings involved in charity work prove that this is not always the case.

BRYAN GLICKMAN

Los Angeles

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I’d like to point out that the American Red Cross should be included as one of those targeting the young adult population. Disaster relief efforts are made possible by Red Cross volunteers--many of whom have a younger face than the stereotypical volunteer. Ongoing financial support is generated by this group, as well.

The Red Cross, as a national organization, will be launching a marketing campaign to address 18- to 34-year-olds.

In the meantime, young Angelenos are encouraged to join People Plus, the young adult group of the Red Cross in Los Angeles. Professionals in finance, entertainment, advertising, accounting, consulting and more are participating in many Red Cross activities beyond disaster relief.

JAYA KOILPILLAI GREENE

Director, Communication

American Red Cross

Los Angeles Chapter

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ACCESS, the Young Adult Program of the Jewish Federation, is overwhelmingly successful in attracting 25- to 40-year-olds. Participants are typically those who have tired of the party scene and are looking for hands-on projects in which their commitment of time and money really counts.

ACCESS offers a palate of community action, education and leadership training programs for singles and couples, all supported by lay volunteers numbering more than 200.

BEN TYSCH, Chairman

DAVID STEIN and STEPHANIE STEINHAUS, Co-directors

ACCESS

Los Angeles

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As The Times discovered, young people are more philanthropic than traditionally believed.

Our own research also dispels the myth of selfish “busters” and “boomers.” In “The Heart of Our Donor,” a national survey of 1,164 donors completed by Barna Research for the Russ Reid Co., the nation’s largest fund-raising firm, we found that:

Busters (18 to 29-year-olds) give only $20 less annually to charities than seniors (65 and older), who are generally regarded as the most charitable.

Individuals in their 30s and 40s (boomers) and those in their 50s give at least twice as much each year as those who are older.

At a time when cutbacks are forcing nonprofit organizations to assume more responsibility in tackling society’s tough problems, it is important to rethink long-held assumptions about who gives and why.

RUSS REID

Chairman/CEO

Russ Reid Co.

Pasadena