The Link Foundation
This is the first time I have ever written an editorial pertaining to a non-profit organization that has a project to help elders and families on the Lakota Reservations of South Dakota.
However, in light of inaccurate information being posted and discussed on the internet attacking an innocent organization, it is important to let the public know that people should never rely on undocumented information about anything pertaining to native issues, events and more importantly, people. Far too often, it's being done for personal reasons only and this is definitely not the Indian way; or so we are taught. If you have concerns or questions about any native organization, go directly to the source first. Investigate - ask more than one person who has had direct contact with the organization or who has received help from the organization to tell you what they know first-hand from experience.
As native people, many of us are quick to expose the inaccuracies reported in the mainstream media, or claimed by individuals or organizations. All too often, this method has been employed to keep American Indians in check; the old divide and conquer technique works very well in many instances and it's not just within the native population.
We often turn on one another, based upon what "someone told us." We don't take the time to find out truth for ourselves and that is a personal responsibility we all have. Whether Indian or not, if we lived up to this responsibility I believe life would be very different today for all people.
The Link Foundation
The Link Foundation is a Colorado non-profit organization, an organization which is just one of the more than 9,000 affiliates that is assisted and overseen by the The National Heritage Foundation
The True Nature of NHF
Many people place the National Heritage Foundation in the category of "Donor Advised Fund." This is entirely wrong and grossly unfair.
The purpose of the National Heritage Foundation is to lead the way into what will be a dominant "people activity" in the 21st Century. Charitable sectors all over the world will need vast numbers of people to help make the world a better place. And the administrative framework around that activity will be structures like those represented by the program of the National Heritage Foundation. The person who wants to be a "charitable entrepreneur" will focus on the aspect of the grand task of making the world a better place that he or she has chosen, based on skills, resources, and preferences. These activities will be closely supervised by National Heritage Foundation and our sister foundations all over the world.
Click here to read the 2003 Annual Report, which gives an excellent overview of what the National Heritage Foundation supports, in keeping with their mantra "For every hurt there is a helper," would ask each of us to find a way to make life better for others.
This report is in a pdf format which is a commonly used format on the internet. You can download a free pdf reader at the free download page Free Downloads
You can also read the most up-to-date, as well as past quarterly reports here
The National Heritage Foundation was established in 1968. NHF promotes people to people projects by setting up "Foundations at NHF" (FANHFs) in the area of charitable, educational, scientific or religious activities as described in Section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code as amended. By consolidating the administration of these charitable projects, we lower costs to minimum levels. To read the history of the Foundation Foundation History
The National Heritage Foundation provides support and assistance to charitable foundations, as well as checks and balances to ensure that all donations go to the people who need the help. No one has exclusive access to any funding monies, without having approval from The National Foundation, so it is nearly impossible for any organization to use donations or funding for any other purpose other than for that in which the organization is intended.
The Link Foundation provides assistance to elders who cannot afford to pay for heat, by either propane or wood or electric. It also assists and supports an annual holiday gift give-away for the children of the Porcupine District of the Pine Ridge Oglala Sioux Reservation in South Dakota. This holiday program is sponsored by the He Ska Tokala Sobriety Society (headquartered on the Pine Ridge Reservation) and Wambli Ho News The Pine Ridge Reservation is one of the poorest reservations in the United States.
Utility/Heating Assistance Program
For The Lakota Sioux Elders of South Dakota
8 Siouxan Reservations in South Dakota - Pine Ridge Reservation, Cheyenne River Reservation, Crow Creek Reservation, Lower Brule Reservation, Rosebud Reservation, Sisseton-Wahpeton Reservation, Yankton Reservation, Flandreau Santee Reservation.
Among the poorest indigenous people in the United States
Over 60% of the homes are severely sub-standard
In 2002, the average income on the Oglala Lakota Sioux Pine Ridge Reservation was only approximately $2600.00 per YEAR
Winter low temperatures in South Dakota average 9* F (November through February)
Made worse with bitter wind-chill factors and Record Temperatures reaching -44* below 0*F (1996)
Elders have died from hypothermia due to inability to pay for heating
Most recently, this year, a man and his child were found in their home, both deceased from hypothermia, on one of the Lakota reservations. Why should anyone in our country freeze to death? But it happens all the time. If it were not for charitable organizations such as the Link Organization, there would be more deaths during the brutally cold winter months. The children and the elders are the most vulnerable.
In a culture where we are suppose to treasure and protect our children and our elders, why would anyone intently attempt to smear an organization that is helping? They cannot help everyone, but they are doing something. If we all do our part - if we would only contribute what we can afford - $5.00 - or $10.00 - whatever amount, even a dollar, it would make a tremendous difference for the people who need our help the most.
If 30 people send in $1.00 - that's $30.00 more than there was before to go toward paying for fuel costs. Imagine if 100 people donated just $1.00 - look how much it would help!
Here is the current financial report for the Link Foundation, including all costs and a listing of those who were helped so far this year. It is a word document report. Current Link Foundation Financial Report 2005-2006
This report clearly shows that the monies received have been used only for the needs of the people. There are no salaries being paid to the volunteers who are doing this to help others and for no personal gain. It shows how the Director, Audrey Link, has paid for expenses out of her own pocket until she can be reimbursed from the National Heritage Foundation which oversees the disbursement of donations and funds to the Link Foundation.
More Financial Accountability ~ The Link Center
Link Center Foundation and
the National Heritage Foundation (NHF)
The Link Center Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) and 509(a)(1) organization affiliated under the National Heritage Foundation.
The National Heritage Foundation is a nation-wide umbrella 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization with over 9,000 affiliates. It carries a long-standing and highly reputable history of supporting smaller non-profit organizations which do good works all across the country as well as world-wide.
As an affiliate, Link Center Foundation derives its 501(c)3 Federal Non-Profit Tax Status through the National Heritage Foundation. As the umbrella organization, NHF handles all bookkeeping, finances, tax records, and institutional records for all of its affiliates.
All affiliate projects and programs must be pre-approved by NHF.
All donations as well as disbursements of the affiliates (including Link Center Foundation) must go through the National Heritage Foundation. NHF controls all fund accounts and pays out disbursements only upon receipt of appropriate and NHF-approved documentation.
Donation checks which are made out to Link Center Foundation are sent directly to NHF for deposit into the account they control in our name. Link Center Foundation does not hold its own bank account.
National Heritage Foundation charges an administrative fee of 2-1/2% on all incoming cash and check donations to its affiliates before passing along the remainder of the donation to our fund accounts. NHF deducts 5-1/2% from all credit card donations to its affiliates to cover the administrative fee plus processing costs before passing along the remainder of the donation to our fund accounts. That is all that NHF ever deducts from donations to its affiliates. Those are extremely small administrative fees in the world of non-profit organizations.
There are no NHF costs or processing fees on disbursements at this time.
For further information about the National Heritage Foundation contact National Heritage Foundation - Email
If you would like to contact NHF by U.S. mail, the address is:
National Heritage Foundation
6201 Leesburg Pike, Suite 405
Falls Church, VA 22044-2201
The telephone number is 800-986-4483. Local telephone number is 703-536-8708. Our fax number is 703-820-5100.
Inaccurate and false information is sometimes spread throughout the internet pipeline for a number of reasons - personal vendettas, jealousy, resentment, and sometimes just the intent to destroy any organization that helps people in the community which has nowhere else to turn for help.
Unfortunately when inaccurate information is purposefully spread throughout the internet, all this does is hurt the people who need help the most.
You should be careful where and to whom you donate money. But use common sense - check the organization out yourself. If it claims to be a registered non-profit, you can easily find that out - all non-profits must be listed with the State in which they are located. Again, ask people who have donated to the organization before or make inquiries of the people who have benefited directly from the donations made to the organization.
The publication, Wambli Ho News, a division of Wambli Ho, Voice of the Eagles, has some photographs from the Christmas give-away for the children. Just the look of joy and happiness in the children's faces is enough to make any caring person feel good inside. To know you had a part in making that happen is the best feeling in the world.
To see all the photographs visit Wambli Ho News
Photo of Child from Third Annual Winter Holiday toy and Clothing Drive
The smiling face of this little girl says it all at the
3rd Annual Winter Holiday Toy and Clothing Drive Distribution
To Benefit the Porcupine District
of the Pine Ridge Oglala Lakota Reservation.
For more information about the Link Center Foundation click HERE
If you would like to donate please read the following information:
How To Donate
Donations to the Link Center Foundation
Note: Please specify if you wish your donation to go to a specific program, such as the Elder’s Heating Assistance Program.
Otherwise, all donations shall go into the General Fund of the Link Center Foundation for the costs of the Foundation and the support of all its projects.
For Cash or Check Donations
to the Link Center Foundation:
Make check payable to: Link Center Foundation
and mail to:
Link Center Foundation
P.O. Box 2253
Longmont, CO 80502-2253
Note: If made by cash or check, The National Heritage Foundation will deduct 2-1/2% from all such donations for administrative costs before passing along the remainder of your donation to the Link Center Foundation.
Note: Audrey Link, the Director and Founder of the Link Center Foundation, is currently, personally paying all NHF administrative fees on check or cash donations specified for the Lakota Sioux Elders Heating Assistance Project.
For Credit Card Donations
to the Link Center Foundation
Please visit the National Heritage Foundation website National Heritage Foundation
§ On the homepage of the National Heritage Foundation website, on the Left Side Menu, Click "NHF Foundation Search"
§ A Foundation Search webpage will appear. In the "Foundation Name" Box enter Link Center Foundation and click on Search Foundations
§ A Foundation Search Results webpage will appear and the Link Center Foundation name will appear under the "Foundation Name" column. Please click on "Details"
§ When the Foundation Details webpage appears, click on "Link Center Foundation Donations Page"
§ Scroll down and follow the instructions for filling out the form
Please be aware that the National Heritage Foundation will deduct 5-1/2% from all credit card donations for administrative fees and processing costs before passing along the remainder of your donation to the Link Center Foundation.
If you would like to help, please make a donation today. Lives depend upon your help.
Jeanne Svhiyeyi Aga Chadwick
Publisher/Editor
My Two Beads Worth
March 8, 2006
Contents
March 2006 Reports
Last updated on March 8, 2006
