...1. How do you feel, as a potential or actual giver to United Way campaigns, about the “high living” of Aramony? Would these allegations affect your gift giving? Why or Why not? William Aramony, president of United Way who built United Way of America into one of the nation’s premier charities. The United Way has been an umbrella charity that was created as a fundraising organization to support many smaller charities. It has been supported by many business firms by fundraising drives and payroll deductions. He had headed the organization, and under his tenure, the organization grew rapidly, nearly quadrupling donations between 1970 and 1990. On the other hand, he was milking out the organization’s fund for his personal benefits such as significant limousine expenses, high salary and uncontrolled perks, international airfare for himself and guests, personal gifts and luxury items, travelling on the charity's dime for personal reasons, affair with young Florida women, loans and diversions of funds to companies that are owned by family members, a $4 million "golden parachute” etc. When an internal investigation and news reports disclosed his lavish life style, as a potential or actual giver to United Way campaigns, I felt terrible knowing all these fact where my contribution had been misused for his lavish lifestyle. I saw a clear sense of white-collar crime under the opportunity fraud triangle. Charitable organizations depend on contributions that people give freely out of a...
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...many people struggle with finding a place of refuge or even something to eat on a daily basis. The goal of The United Way of Greater Cleveland is to try to establish a community where individuals who have no support and families who have lost everything “achieve their human potential through education, income stability and healthy lives” (http://www.unitedwaycleveland.org/about-us/ ). It plans to do this by improving lives through mobilizing the caring power of communities around the world to advance the common good. This organization has helped many people transform their lives into becoming better...
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...and individuals across the globe are struggling, while others are offered numerous opportunities to achieve their goals. If possible, the people who are capable of providing aid to the less fortunate should do so, and United Way Worldwide allows this to occur. United Way Worldwide impacts the lives of adults and children as they connect people to create long-lasting solutions to enhance positive identities through the education of youths. United Way Worldwide unites individuals for multiple causes, and one of the main problems they focus on is strengthening the identities by improving education for all, especially youth. They embrace “a comprehensive approach to education that spans all the way from cradle to career” (“United Way Worldwide- Education”). Many of the children that are helped by this organization live in poverty, so they do not have the same opportunities or personal development as others living in economically stable conditions. According to Louisiana State University Online, “Students who live in...
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...1. Justify how the reporting requirements of the PCAOB reduce the chance of financial fraud. Basically, the goal of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board is to improve quality of audited financial statements, reduce the risk of auditing failures, and increase public trust in financial reporting processes and of the auditing profession. In order for this to happen PCAOB must refocus and remind auditors of the standards required of them regarding fraud and for them to be diligent about their responsibilities relating to fraud. The purpose of auditing a financial statement is to detect material misstatements and false or missing information caused by fraud. The PCAOB reporting requirements place a lot of emphasis on disclosure in financial reporting however the board provides guidance and information that are relevant which should be disclosed within the financial statements. PCAOB also dictates to management and to the auditor their roles and responsibilities in financial reporting. PCAOB requires these standards and duties to be followed reinforces the accounting professionals to be able to reduce fraud in financial reporting at the same time ensuring investors receive accurate financial information. According to Rischall, PCAOB has established auditing, quality control, ethics, and independence standards to be used by registered public accounting firms in the preparation of audited financial statements for publicly traded companies, as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley...
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...duration. The difference between United Way and other organizations is the services offered to most homeless and near homelessness veterans no matter the duration served in the military. Military veterans should not be on the streets of the country they protected. The organizations services are “important” and “distinctive” (Armstrong & Kotler, 2011, p. 197) because it caters to the needs of all homeless veterans, including those who served shorter terms and fewer benefits from the government. Pre-existing services such as continuing education for adults, educational assistance for children, and more is an expansion to what is already offered. The new services, such as housing and health assistance, especially separate accommodation for female veterans, are a competitive advantage over other organizations who do not offer these services to many veterans. The focus of the organization is providing communities with resources to “achieve their human potential through education, income stability, and healthy lives” (About United Way Worldwide, 2012). United Way established and functioned for 125 years and continues to provide “quality service.” Communication, importance, and distinctive focuses have increased the organizations brand and renown. Introducing services to veterans and catering strongly toward women veteran needs will help the organization reach its own community goals as well as the VA’s goals to lowering homeless veterans in the United States. Improvement is a step to...
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...regulated. In my opinion, a nonprofit organization can implement the following controls to ensure transparency and accountability in its operations. 1. Segregation of duties. From what I learned from the case, the staffs that took money out of the United Way of America were served in a position for both authorization and recording. In general, they wrote checks to themselves and then adjust the financial records. Segregation of duties is the economic and efficient way to against those types of fraud. No single individual should be allowed to both authorize and record. 2. Documentation. All transactions, especially financial transactions, have to be recorded properly with all the supplemental documents. Nonprofit organizations should not only record any changes to their business process but also document the reason behind those changes. 3. Policy enforcement. Not like a normal business, a nonprofit organization usually does not have any written down business policies or code of conducts. Most of the nonprofits ignore this control because of their relatively small size. However, I think this control is also a key to prevent fraud. A good ethical standard and a good understanding of the business procedures can also provide nonprofits ways to reduce the fraud risks. Q2 CPA firms have responsibilities to not only audit the nonprofit organizations but also help to reinforce a stronger internal control procedure. Nonprofits rely on internal controls to carry out their operations and...
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...I have been fortunate to be able to volunteer for the United Way Project Connect event several times. This seasonal program is designed to assist homeless, those at risk of becoming homeless, and veterans. Healthcare, food security, housing, and social service providers are made available in one location to allow those in need access to a large number of services quickly and efficiently. The reason this program is so crucial is that many participants may not have access to reliable transportation to reach their required services. Even when access is available, the time required to navigate public transportation make the task daunting and leave the need unfulfilled. United Way’s Project Connect event is a unique and particularly rewarding...
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...Study: United Way of America, 1992 Prepared by Dr. Martha Dede Spring, 2008 A MATTER OF GOVERNANCE: UNITED WAY OF AMERICA, 1992 Organization Thumbnail United Way of America (UWA) was incorporated in 1932 with the mission “[t]o improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities”. Since, UWA has been a significant constituent in the flywheel of American philanthropy. Headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, UWA is comprised of 1,400 dues-paying and another 700 non dues-paying affiliates which, in aggregate, raise about $3.1 billion annually, and fund approximately 50,000 service-providing health and human service agencies nationwide. (1) In 1992, UWA President William Aramony brought the organization to its knees for, variously, being a “sloppy President”, a serial womanizer, of exercising “poor judgment” (2) and of “haphazard” management practices. (3) Brief Chronology In late 1991 and extending into February 1992, the UWA Board of Governors ordered an independent internal investigation of long-time UWA President William Aramony for allegations of misuse of funds, fraud, tax evasion and illegal operation of satellite businesses. The investigation emerged in response to information provided (anonymously) by UWA staffers to LaSalle D. Leffall Jr., Chair of UWA’s Executive Committee, to inquiries from a Washington Post investigative reporter, and to demands from several UWA affiliate officials that Aramony be removed. At that time, several United Way...
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...United way: Not only help get you on your feet, but help you stay there. FUNDRASER HOW WE DID IT: Started off with the lemonade stand (selling approach) on the corner where the stop sign is. Bye humane society. (noticing how many students visited. Bagging groceries: both involved with Bagging groceries through church Plymouth covenant. Gave us the idea. Pastor Dan gave us the idea because we went to him. Groceries best idea Experience Getting involved in community Seeing appreciation from people for offering our help And them giving there money to the people in need People’s reactions/ thoughts: Lemonade stand: The few people that stopped by wanted to know what we were doing and for what, so we explained to them that it was for a class and we were fundraising to raise money for The United Way and how it was going to help so many people. Most people were walking and stopped by to buy some lemonade GLOBAL IMPACT: Improving education: by helping children in youth achieve their potential. In the video watched, I noticed that they not only help you get on your feet, but make sure you stay on your feet. Income: promote financial stability and independence Health: improving peoples health WHAT WE COULD’VE DONE BETTER: Get opinions around campus about what people would actually buy or attend so we could base it off of that and have a better success rate Topic: The United Way Fundraiser Specific Purpose: Working in a group, and trying to raise as much...
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...of $3,675.00 | $ 906.00 | Subtotal | $4,529.00 | 8. Profit margin @ 5% of $4,594.00 | $ 227.00 | Total | $4,756.00 | You are the executive director. Following the checklist in Figure 11.1, perform all the computations necessary to set a fee. What will your fee be? What is your break-even point? What is your go/no-go decision point? Exercise 11.2 As the executive director of Advocates for Children, you have had a change of heart. You decide not to attempt to maximize revenues in this second seminar. You decide to exclude a profit margin in the fee computation, but you will include indirect costs. Additionally, the local United Way in the community hosting the seminar has guaranteed 45 participants. If fewer than 45 participants register for the seminar, the United Way will make up the difference. In exchange for this guarantee, the United Way has asked you to set the seminar fee as low as possible. Following the checklist in Figure 11.1, perform all the computations necessary to set a fee. What will your fee...
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...orientation information. The case involving the Boy Scouts of America and the United Way detailed in Managing Human Resources (pp 150) provides an excellent example of the ethical and realistic issues that can arise surrounding this now common lifestyle. James Dale prided himself on instilling self-reliance and leadership in children’s’ lives as an assistant scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). After 12 years, this veteran volunteer was expelled from the BSA after they learned that he was gay because of his sexual orientation. Though the boy scouts teach young men to stand up for what is right, they did not have any anti-discrimination laws intact to protect homosexual volunteers. Dale, instead, turned to rely on the courts for help. During the court case, the state court initially ruled that Dale should be able to return as a scoutmaster, indicating that one’s sexual orientation does not drive the ability to help the scouts, but the BSA did not accept this answer. Instead, the BSA turned to the Supreme Court to get permission to release Dale of his scoutmaster duties. The United Way had been involved with the BSA for numerous years and provided support funding for various Boy Scout activities and programs. Overall, the United Way has protected its own employees and those it worked with by instilling a policy protecting employees against sexual discrimination. Although the United Way leaves the ultimate decision for antidiscrimination laws up to each chapter...
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...the agency, marketing and public relations of the agency, and value of diversity demonstrated within the agency. The agency chosen is The United Way of Central Massachusetts. The United Way of Central Massachusetts The United Way of Central Massachusetts made a commitment to improve the lives of people in the community (United Way of Central Mass, 2010). Their vision is to have “a world where all individuals and families achieve their human potential through education, income stability, and healthy lives” (United Way Worldwide, 2012). The mission of The United Way is “to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities around the world to advance the common good” (United Way Worldwide, 2012). The United Way began back in 1887 by a Denver woman, a priest, two ministers, and a rabbi (United Way Worldwide, 2012). The organization was created “to serve as an agent to collect funds for local charities, as well as to coordinate relief services, counsel and refer clients to cooperating agencies, and make emergency assistance grants in cases which could not be referred” (United Way Worldwide, 2012). Still today, 125 years later, The United Way is focused on improving and making a difference in the lives of those in the community. There is a network of “nearly 1,800 community- based United Ways in 40 countries and territories” (United Way Worldwide, 2012). This organization is “governed by active, responsible, and voluntary...
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...Calculators were created to solve hard math problems and not the simple ones. Now a day, kids can’t even do simple math problems in their head. Then there is spell check on computers. Most teachers want everything typed now, therefore students can’t really learn if spell check gives them the answer. Kids won’t be able to develop with a lot of knowledge if they always depend on technology to do the thinking for them. The United States has become lazier and lazier as we find easier ways to solve our everyday problems. Studies have shown that television and video games are main reasons for obesity. Teenagers can’t seem to go anywhere without their cell phones in their hands either. No one really goes outside anymore because of the entertainment inside. It’s good that we have these advantages but we can’t take advantage of them. We got so used to the pampered life that technology gives us that we can’t simply get back to the “simple life”. One of the biggest sources of technology in the world is computers which brings along the internet. It provides a fast and easy way to get things done. Social networking sites allow people to meet. However, it’s better to start a friendship in person. Also, there are...
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...lookout for new ways to add value to the customer It requires people who are committed to taking personal responsibility for offering good service. Positive attitude is of great value and importance in all walks of life, especially in the work place. Having a good, positive attitude, along with positive thinking, at work will reflect on what you do and make you a more productive employee. This can determine how well you get your projects done and also how others perceive you. If you display a good attitude, you may increase your chances for a promotion or a raise if you are a positive role model for others within your department at work. The important question is what is attitude? Attitude is everything, even the worst situation can be tackled with one’s positive attitude. The environment around has a part to play but in the end its only we who decide to take or leave the opportunity. Success or failure of a business is determined more by attitude than by aptitude. It's not very easy to maintain positive attitude every time but it is essential to keep ourselves on track so that we get the best results from everything we do, every decision we make. A simple way to understand the effect of attitude is to know the difference between “optimistic and pessimistic” (Dolores p1). An optimist is hopeful about the future or the success of something in particular but on the other hand, someone who is pessimistic thinks that bad things are going to happen. Attitude is the way that we behave...
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...Name: Course: Date: Instructor: Societal Norms vs. Change People tend to stick to what they know, what has been normal and passed down to them from generations and apply these things to their own lives. Communities are simply afraid of change and afraid of the way it may affect their ways of living for the worst. Change will always affect different people and communities differently, whether it is positively or negatively. Following old traditions within small communities has both costs and benefits. The question is whether or not change could overcome both the benefits and costs of following old traditions within the community. According to Nancy Scheper-Hughes, an anthropologist and the author of The Anthropological Looking Glass, communities, such as small villages from Ireland like Ballybran, need to accept change to be able to learn the more modern ways of looking at situations. Scheper-Hughes critiques the Irish villager’s ways of living and, whether or not she actually noticed, compares this village to American way of living. Villages such as Ballybran may have a different way of living, but this does not necessarily mean it should be looked at as uncivilized or the wrong way, though change may have been a wise choice for the villagers, which Scheper-Hughes was trying to imply. Furthermore, Maxine Hong Kingston, the author of No Name Woman, emphasizes on the risks and effects of change when born into such a strict community such as a woman born into Chinese customs...
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