Why do we have contests for charity?

[Trassk]

For someone who will give change to charity pots when I see them, and who doesn't earn much money, I began to think while walking around town today, why is that, that for certain major corporations or businesses, many of them will not give to charity outright, like I do when giving £5 to a cancer research or elderly help service, unless they actually make a game out of it.

Think about on these game shows, where people come in to win money, not for themselves but for charities like children in need or heart foundation, and they go though the whole show, just to lose on the final round and not get any money to give to charities. Thats something thats always pissed me off, because this comes from huge, rich tv producers and companies that could wipe there ass with money they have so much of it.

Now of course i'm not ranting about how everyone should fork out for charity, its entirely up to them if they want to. i only give to local charities and those within my own country because I read about how charity organizations can't even get to the people they aim to help in third world countries all the time, so I make sure the money i give goes to a service that will help.

But, with these huge tv executives and other huge organizations, who have more money then sense, why the f**k do they play games, and with the chance of not winning that money for a charity? Why don't they just scarp this, write a cheque for give it to an organization instead of waving it in front of peoples faces "The little children need pacemakers and heart dialysis machines to help save there lives? Well to bad, try again next week!"

[Rukentuts]

Because might as well have fun and provide some entertainment while giving.

[Templar 331]

I never understood this either. Just like the walk for cancer thing. How does walking help those with cancer? I'm sure it helps prevent cancer, but why do it for those with cancer? Just donate to the research groups looking for cures and be done with it.

[Blueobelisk]

What's the point of having contestants play if they're going to just give the money away anyway?

[Trassk]

Because might as well have fun and provide some entertainment while giving.

Fun and entertainment I agree with, there are organizations that do this, like children in need in what they host, and when we see celebrities giving cash to help them.

but how is it a benefit if they make a contest from it, only for people aiming anting to give the winning money to a charity, ends up losing it?

[Blueobelisk]

I never understood this either. Just like the walk for cancer thing. How does walking help those with cancer? I'm sure it helps prevent cancer, but why do it for those with cancer? Just donate to the research groups looking for cures and be done with it.

Yeah I really don't get this either. If people are gonna sponsor/donate for you anyway then what the fuck is the point of doing the marathon? Isn't the time better spent working for money/doing work for charity?

- - - Updated - - -

The show gets something out of their donation by exploiting a widespread love for all things celebrity.

I'm sorry I don't get your point. Please point out a specific show/celebrity.

[Trassk]

I never understood this either. Just like the walk for cancer thing. How does walking help those with cancer? I'm sure it helps prevent cancer, but why do it for those with cancer? Just donate to the research groups looking for cures and be done with it.

yeah, its a very messed up mindset. I mean does anyone find it entertaining to watch people walking? I sure don't, and i'm not doing to pay people to do it, I'm only intrested in giving to the charity, not the event they made up to spur people into giving?

[Seme]

It raises awareness for the charities, people who may never have heard of some charities or didn't know what they did will learn a little more and will help broaden the charities donation base.

At least that my interpretation of it.

[Trassk]

The show gets something out of their donation by exploiting a widespread love for all things celebrity.

See even then, if the only reason a show or event is doing it is to exploit it for publicity, even thats sort of ok as long as money goes to help people in the end. But shows that do this, and then don't give money over to people to give to charities?

[belfpala]

yeah, its a very messed up mindset. I mean does anyone find it entertaining to watch people walking? I sure don't, and i'm not doing to pay people to do it, I'm only intrested in giving to the charity, not the event they made up to spur people into giving?

It's a visible reminder that people are giving to a cause. When people see their friends and neighbors giving money to something, they might be more likely to also do it. The mindset is very understandable.

[Jaxi]

See even then, if the only reason a show or event is doing it is to exploit it for publicity, even thats sort of ok as long as money goes to help people in the end. But shows that do this, and then don't give money over to people to give to charities?

"Awareness" or what not. They're fairly large events, and when they come to your town, the only way you'll miss hearing about them is if you are actively avoiding them.

Besides, I'd rather put 15 dollars into a fun-run-for-charity event rather than 10 dollars into a donation box. Even if it is just psychological, it feels better. I don't know, makes the money seem more significant when you commit to something like a run along with it.

[Reg]

Most shows that have contestants playing for charities almost always make a minimum donation for all those that play. The show gets the ratings and the charities get the money. Very rarely do you see someone play for charity and not get at least a monetary donation to their charity.

[Blueobelisk]

I mean does anyone find it entertaining to watch people walking?

Do you know that some people consider the NYC (or Boston, I don't fucking remember) marathon to be one of the best sports events to view live before you die?

[Reg]

Do you know that some people consider the NYC (or Boston, I don't fucking remember) marathon to be one of the best sports events to view live before you die?

Probably the Boston Marathon, as people usually use the NYC Marathon to qualify. Boston actually requires qualifying times.

[napalm007]

The one off the top of my head is Who Wants to be a Millionaire?, but they're not competing against each other. I think The Weakest Link also did it. Either way, celebrities each pick their own charity, so there's some incentive for competing, and more people tune into the show because OMGCELEBS.

If Who Wants to be a Millionaire automatically gave each celebrity a million dollars when they play for charities, it would get canceled in less than a week. The executives know how much money a contestant wins on average, and they base their business model around that number. Having some contestants and their charities win $1000 dollars and others $100000 or more is much more exciting than just giving $30000 regardless of how they do on the show.

[Reg]

If Who Wants to be a Millionaire automatically gave each celebrity a million dollars when they play for charities, it would get canceled in less than a week. The executives know how much money a contestant wins on average, and they base their business model around that number. Having some contestants and their charities win $1000 dollars and others $100000 or more is much more exciting than just giving $30000 regardless of how they do on the show.

That's usually how it works though, the winner receives the full amount (In the case of Millionaire, a million dollars) and every other contestant gets $10,000 (or some other arbitrary number). When celebrities play for charities, every charity receives something. You aren't going to see Regis Philban (or whoever does the show now) say "Fuck you, American Heart Association. Cancer beat you."

[Kalis]

You aren't going to see Regis Philban (or whoever does the show now) say "Fuck you, American Heart Association. Cancer beat you."

They should do that.

On one side you could have little Johnny who needs a liver transplant, and on the other little Bobby who needs a heart operation. Whichever team wins gets the funding for their patient.

You could contrast the jubilation of the winner, with a zoomed in shot of the loser's face as the realisation they are going to die a horrible painful death dawns on them.

It has everything - tension, celebrity teams, sick kids, joy, heartache. It's ratings bonanza!



Probably wouldn't work in a country with socialised healthcare though, so syndication rights may not be profitable.

[Knough]

It raises awareness for the charities, people who may never have heard of some charities or didn't know what they did will learn a little more and will help broaden the charities donation base.

At least that my interpretation of it.

Fully in agreement. Raising awareness for charities and causes is the reason of most walks, as well as getting sponsored, so people who don't normally donate will do it for the sponsee.

In terms of entirely charity based shows, ones only on once a year, its much like a walk, but also people pay in part for morals and in part for the entertainment to show support.
TV shows where they do celebrity ones are mostly to boost awareness for the celebrities usually unique choice of charity and to boost the shows ratings, no point gving celebrities money, people frown on it.
Some people want to see the work done by their money, another reason to watch.

Things like Nixx said, who wants to be a millionaire, it's not about charity initially, it's about the show and the celebrity mixing and getting publicity, then the money goes to a charity because that's a better use for it, and makes it hard for people to go "oh this is just business", when there's goodness coming out.

[Felya]

Because it generates publicity. Instead of buying 30 minutes of air time to promote a cause that most people will tune out, like they do for support starving pets and free tortured children... Something like that... You go on a game show with an established audience and do not pay for the 30 minutes. Things like races for cancer work in a similar way, but with local news talking about the race and people seeing the race, promoting it.

It's the same concept as a business sponsoring a sporting event. They are not just doing it for the loss of it, but because the name being mentioned is advertising.

[Pitkanen]

If you want NIH support for your health-related cause, it better be something people have heard of.

I'm still waiting for the "Race to murder anti-biotic resistant bacteria" though. haha, we're totally hosed in like 20 years.