CrossState’s Foggie and MC FCU’s Arenas Talk Giving Back, Volunteering, and Holiday Scams at PA Newsmakers

On Thursday, CrossState Chief Regulatory Officer, Nicola Foggie, and MC FCU President and CEO, Elba Arenas, joined PA Newsmakers Host Terry Madonna to talk about the value of giving back and volunteering, and how to stay safe from holiday scams.

Here are some of their key points:

Donations Increase at the End of the Year:

According to the 2023 M+R Benchmarks Report, December giving accounts for roughly one fourth (26%) and up to one-third of annual nonprofit revenue.

How Do I Know How Much to Donate?

Making monetary donations can be a wonderful way to support organizations that are doing the most good, but making sure you don’t cause yourself financial distress to do so is important.
Before making a donation to a nonprofit or charitable organization, check your own budget first. The holidays are a time where overspending is easy and credit card bills can rack up.

Protecting Yourself from Holiday Giving Scams

With increased giving also comes increased scams, unfortunately. But there are things you can do to help spot a scam before you give your money away!
If someone wants donations in cash, by gift card, or by wiring money, don’t do it. That’s how scammers ask you to pay. To be safer, pay by credit card or check.
It’s a good practice to keep a record of all donations. And review your statements closely to make sure you’re only charged the amount you agreed to donate – and that you’re not signed up to make a recurring donation.

Give the Gift of Time

If you don’t have the space in your budget for a monetary donation or are leery of scams, you can always donate your time. It has been proven to be beneficial for both the giver and the recipient.

How to Find a Place to Volunteer

There are numerous volunteer opportunities available. The key is to find a position that you would enjoy and are capable of doing.
Think about why you want to volunteer. What would you enjoy doing? The opportunities that match both your goals and your interests are most likely to be fun and fulfilling.

Watch the full recording on the PA Newsmakers website. You can also catch this episode on the following days, times, and stations:

WGAL Channel 8 (Harrisburg and Lancaster) Sunday, December 10th at 11:30 AM
WBPH (Lehigh Valley and Philadelphia) Monday, December 11th at 8:30 PM
WLYH (Harrisburg, Lebanon, York) Monday, December 11th at 8:30 PM
WKBS 47 (Altoona) Saturday, December 16th at 9:30 AM
WPCB 40 (Pittsburgh) Saturday, December 16th at 9:30 AM
MeTV (Susquehanna Valley) Sunday, December 10th at 9:30 AM

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