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Community Corner

Charity Begins at Home: Red Cross Relents on Runner's Fundraising Pledge

Family's persistence pays off for local man

Marnie Hebert is proud of her husband, Michael, a recent veteran of the War in Afghanistan, for running in the recent Chicago Marathon to raise money for the American Red Cross.

But the young Romeoville wife and her mother-in-law, Cathy Hebert, remain frustrated with some of the tactics used by the organization, saying the charity attempted to siphon money out of the couple's bank account after Michael failed to meet a fundrasing requirement.

In a recent email to Romeoville Patch, Cathy wrote, in part, “Michael is a very caring, hard working, charitable young man.” And, she said, “Although Michael raised $2,000 and completed the marathon running for the Red Cross Team, the Red Cross will be taking $500 from his bank account.”

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Before the Oct. 9 race, Michael had registered online for the Red Cross Run Red team, filling in the standard biographical information and pledging to raise $2,500 for the charity.

He and other runners on the Red Cross team were also required to provide credit card information—and to sign the following agreement, which was provided to Patch by the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago:

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By submitting this form, I understand that I am authorizing the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago to charge a $50 registration fee to the credit card above. If, by September 1, 2011, I have not met the $500 pledge minimum, I authorize the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago to charge the balance to my credit card. If by November 1, 2011, I have not met my entire pledge amount, I authorize the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago to charge the balance to my credit card. I understand that failure to meet these pledge agreements and if, for any reason, my credit card is declined and I fail to fulfill my pledge amounts, the Red Cross may suspend my marathon registration and hold my marathon registration chip and bib until I fulfill my pledge amount. I understand that despite failure to run the marathon due to injury, health concerns, or personal reasons, I will still be held responsible for my fundraising pledge.

Although he didn’t have time to train for the marathon (he and Marnie had been married only three weeks at the time), Michael told his new wife he was able to finish the race through “brute strength and ignorance.”

But despite his efforts, Michael fell about $500 short of his pledge—and the young couple found themselves wondering how they would come up with the extra funds.

“My husband often leaves for work before the sun comes up, and gets home well after dark,” Marnie wrote on her Facebook page. “He also takes college courses at night. His fundraising was a personal memorial to his (recently deceased) brother, done in the little time available between work and school, and on the weekends ‑ literally going door to door and business to business.”

Marnie said when she called the Red Cross to let them know her husband had fallen short of his goal, she was taken aback by the organization’s response.

“I expected them to thank him for his hard work, but what they told me was that he was responsible to make up the difference and that they would be taking the rest of the money out of the bank account that he provided, Marnie wrote. “ ... I explained that if they took the money out of our bank account, we wouldn’t be able to pay our bills. Their solution (was to) set up a payment plan.” 

“Last I checked, the phrase was “Charitable GIVING,” Marnie wrote. “Charitable TAKING is an oxymoron.”

A pledge was made

Martha Carlos, director of communications for the American Red Cross, Greater Chicago Region, said Michael Hebert willingly signed a contract and provided credit card information on his application for  the marathon.

“Mr. Hebert chose the highest (pledge) amount,” Carlos said. She added that when the Red Cross was made aware the Heberts would not be able to fulfill the remainder of the $2,500 pledge, the organization offered to put the couple on a payment plan to help raise the funds.

“We like when people honor their pledges,” Carlos added.

Determination pays off

But Marnie Hebert was not ready to give up.

“The Red Cross said they were willing to work with people,” Marnie told Patch. “We contacted them four or five times, and all they would say is they were willing to set up a payment plan for us. They just wanted to get their money.

“But after we provided contact information on Facebook for Red Cross and people began calling and emailing, them, we got results,” she said.

Yesterday, the Red Cross agreed not to charge Michael’s credit card for the remainder of his pledge amount.

“I have spoken to his wife, and we told her it seemed this would be hardship issue,” Carlos said. “We are a humanitarian organization; we are going to let them out of it.”

Carlos said she knows the Red Cross is not the only organization that asks volunteers to honor their pledge commitments.

“It might be worth noting that personally, I did the breast cancer three-day about seven years ago, and I had to provide my credit card information. I knew I could raise funds on the back end,” Carlos said.

Red Cross counts on volunteers’ commitments

“I want people to understand that we run on donations, Carlos said. (The marathon team) is an entirely volunteer program, and it’s made very clear to folks what they are signing up for.

Once it’s in writing, we put those funds into our budget even if we haven’t received them yet. It’s really important to us. We run on donations.”

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