Protect Your Donations This Season

Berlin, M.D. -- The holiday season is a time of year when many of us open our hearts – and our wallets – to give to our favorite charities and causes. With collections for the 2006 Penguin Swim in full swing, Atlantic General Hospital and Health System urge caution when making a donation.

An unfortunate by-product of many charities and fundraising events is the scammer posing as a representative of a legitimate cause, who collects cash from unsuspecting citizens – only to pocket the money.

There is no way to confirm if an individual is collecting money for the Penguin Swim; nor is there a way to verify if the funds submitted by an individual to the Atlantic General Hospital Foundation is the total amount collected. To protect yourself, never make cash donations.

Make checks payable to Atlantic General Hospital Foundation. In the memo line you can write the name of the penguin team and/or individual swimmer so they can receive credit toward the top fundraiser award given after the big plunge. This way, the donation is tax deductible and a fraudster would be unable to cash the check.

Writing a check ensures that your gift is reaching its intended recipient and will give peace of mind to enjoy the holiday season.