ORANGE COUNTY PERSPECTIVE : Irony on Philanthropy Day

Friday is National Philanthropy Day, which will be celebrated in Orange County with a breakfast honoring individuals and organizations that have helped those in need. Top honor at the fourth annual celebration will go to Athalie Clarke of Newport Beach, whose philanthropic activities have included the Arthritis Foundation of Orange County, Chapman College and UC Irvine. Clarke will receive the Spirit of Philanthropy award.

But this year there is an ironic twist to the celebration. Earlier this week, United Way of Orange County said that it looks as if the county--one of the wealthiest in the nation--will once again fall short of its annual goal for charitable giving. It is a puzzling phenomenon in a politically conservative county where, presumably, there would be broad support for President Bush’s “thousand points of light”--the private support of programs once financed by government.

This is the fifth consecutive year that the county will have failed to meet the United Way goal, which was set at $20.5 million, a 10% increase over the 1988 pledge total of $18.6 million. United Way officials attributed part of this to cutbacks in computer, communications and aerospace firms that now have fewer employees to solicit for payroll deductions--the agency’s primary means of raising money.

But these same officials say that they continue to be concerned that county residents contribute less per capita than other similar areas in the country. According to the 1988 Orange County Survey, residents gave just $8.34 per capita to charity, a 30% decline from 1987. The national average is $18.79. The United Way itself says that Orange County ranks last in per capita giving compared to six economically similar areas of the country including Boston, San Diego and Atlanta.

While United Way has had its problems in the past, it now appears to be on a strong course. It is the major charitable organization in the nation. In Orange County alone, it aids 121 organizations that help the poor, sick and disabled as well as youth and other groups.

Charity, as they say, begins at home. Orange County should take better care of its own.