At this point we investigated the charitable golf tournaments: we could find no record of 1, another responded that they had never asked for or received any auction item from the practice, 1 didn’t respond at all, and the last said they did not keep records of charitable donations. However, the reality was that the person collecting these golf tournament certificates would pick them up and redeem them when different staff was in my office. I have seen auction chairs purchase an item they personally requested from a practice because they either wanted the service or product themselves or wanted to drive up the value for the organization. Just when we thought we had everything under control, a member of my staff noticed that a person who had requested auction items for various “charity golf tournaments” had not only picked up the certificate from our office but also personally redeemed it. After this, we started informing charities that if the item did not sell for a reasonable portion of its value, it should not be auctioned, and we would re-donate the next year. Other times, people would show up with a certificate for neuromodulator treatments or injectable filler that had a retail worth of $1000 and they had only spent $20 for the winning bid. This made me feel great because the charity really benefited. Frequently, and especially for nationally known charities, the bidder had paid far more than what the actual auction item was worth in the fun of a charitable bidding war. After implementing the updated rules, I would ask certificate recipients what price they had paid in the auction. This immediately solved some of our problems, but unfortunately our diligence was not enough. We began putting a chronological number on the certificate as well as issuing an expiration date and declaring that the certificates are nontransferable. We quickly learned there had to be some rules, so we refined our certificates.
Others would show up with a certificate they personally did not bid on and once, someone showed up with a photocopy of a certificate demanding redemption.
In years past, some people would come to the practice holding crumpled and tattered auction certificates issued 3 years prior.
We had no rules and assumed it would be an easy situation. In the beginning, we simply accepted all requests and printed a certificate redeemable for a given service. This did not bother me because in the end, I am helping people in need.Įven when they are soliciting with the best of intentions, some people find a way to take advantage of the person or practice donating. As I mentioned earlier, what began as a trickle became a significant investment. Whether it be seen as good or bad, the more charities you support with donations of products or services, the more requests you get for further donations. Some fundraising “winners” have become regular patients. My practice gets to assist organizations with raising funds for their good work and at the same time I get recognition as a provider of cosmetic services in my community. Additionally, I have supported public and private school fundraising auctions, gymnastic team auctions, golf tournaments, and pretty much every describable request within a community.įor the most part, this has been extremely bilaterally beneficial. Many of the groups are well-known national charities.
Providing a neuromodulator or filler treatment or a skin care basket has been an easy way to support these groups. The most common request is the donation of a cosmetic item for a charitable auction. Despite this, I've tried to support any request. This began as a trickle 20 years ago and has developed into a streaming pipeline. Like many, my practice is called on frequently for charitable fundraising support for innumerable causes. Having said that, much of my current charitable work centers around children and adults with disabilities. I have 2 special needs children with severe disabilities but was active in helping children years before my sons were born. I performed many charitable reconstructive surgeries on children in the earlier part of my career.
I, like many readers of this article, have provided pro bono services, participated in volunteer efforts, become involved with numerous charitable organizations, and simply tried to make my community a better place. I truly believe that most fulfilled and successful doctors are eager to give back to their communities. Most practitioners are indebted to their community for the success of their practices.