Collection:LPB

Genre: Panel

Place Covered: Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 2008-11-26

Duration: 00:56:58

Subjects: Charitable contributions | Nonprofit organizations | Louisiana Association of Nonprofit Organizations | Hurricane Gustav, 2008 | Volunteers | Filmed panel discussions

Contributors:

• Courtney, Beth Host
• Freeman, Craig Host
• Godoy, Al Producer
• Davies, John Interviewee
• Hymel, Susan Interviewee
• Manning, Mike Interviewee
• Wadge, Gordon Interviewee
• Rizzo, Dino Interviewee
• Boyle, Timothy Speaker
• Gaharan, Deanna Speaker
• Lewis, Melody Speaker
• Grant, Mark Speaker
• Deavers, Laura Speaker
• Bodley, Garcia Speaker
• Wilcher, Samuel Speaker
• Myers, Celeste Speaker
• Alberty, Brannon Speaker
• Brougham, Esma Speaker
• Brougham, Wayne Speaker
• Profita, Karen Panelist
• Guste, Melanie Panelist
• Smith, Brooke Panelist
• Brau, Reid Panelist

This episode of the series “Louisiana Public Square” from November 26, 2008, features Craig Freeman leading a discussion between the audience members and panelists on charitable giving. A background report on the topic precedes the discussion. It includes interviews with: John Davies, CEO of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation; Susan Hymel, director at the Louisiana Association of Nonprofit Organizations; Mike Manning, executive director at the Baton Rouge Food Bank; Gordon Wadge, co-President and CEO of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New Orleans; and Dino Rizzo, pastor of the Healing Place Church in Baton Rouge. The audience members then discuss their views on time-based giving vs. monetary giving, if charitable giving is necessary during the current economic recession, how the government can incentivize time-based giving, and the differences between giving to national vs. local organizations. A panel of experts then joins the audience to answer their questions. The panelists are: Karen Profita, president and CEO of Capital Area United Way; Melanie Guste, president and CEO of the Louisiana Association of Nonprofit Organizations; Brooke Smith, director at the Office of the Lieutenant Governor; and Reid Brau, executive director of the Northwest Louisiana American Red Cross. They discuss: how phone solicitation affects the public's desire to give to organizations; how organizations can communicate trustworthiness to their donors or potential donors; how to promote volunteerism; tax incentives for volunteering time; and statistics on the rates of charitable giving following the aftermath of Hurricane Gustav. This program was preserved through a 2022-2023 Public Broadcasting Preservation Fellowship. Hosts: Beth Courtney and Craig Freeman