54 Comments - Bill - Monday, Jun 11, 07 @ 6:38 am: The Rod Blagojevich Legal Defense Fund. - Disgusted - Monday, Jun 11, 07 @ 6:41 am: How about a donation to “The Merit Comp.Employees Who Got Screwed Fund,” or “The Broken ASFCME Contract Fund.” - OneMan - Monday, Jun 11, 07 @ 6:56 am: How about to parks programs in Springfield or perhaps to some foundation (if one exists) that helps out New Salem? - Future Headline - Monday, Jun 11, 07 @ 7:44 am: “Bustin’ Blagojevich” - Bridget Dooley - Monday, Jun 11, 07 @ 7:45 am: How about the Greater Chicago Food Depository? - Leigh - Monday, Jun 11, 07 @ 8:00 am: Illinois Military Family Relief fund. These guys deserve help! - soccermom - Monday, Jun 11, 07 @ 8:02 am: Illinois Military Family Relief Fund gets my vote, too. - not on this one - Monday, Jun 11, 07 @ 8:17 am: sorry, i missed the weekend edition on Tusk. There’s nothing to fear he’s close by waiting for the lottery and toll way privatizations to come. $$$$$$ - Big Al - Monday, Jun 11, 07 @ 8:24 am: Another vote for the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund. - Potbelly Pigs - Monday, Jun 11, 07 @ 8:31 am: The Illinois Tollway is a “cash cow” and Blago can’t wait to get his gruby little mitts on it. Maybe if he sells it, those stupid Blago signs can be torn down and recycled into something more positive like maybe some furniture (rounded corners) in his prison cell. - Lainer - Monday, Jun 11, 07 @ 8:39 am: There is a foundation that helps out New Salem… it’s called the New Salem Lincoln League. It operates a gift shop on the site. Any donations (of time or money) would be greatly appreciated. - St. Nick Name - Monday, Jun 11, 07 @ 8:45 am: In today’s SJR they mention how the Springfield Sojourn shelter has lost it’s federal grant which covered the cost of having an attorney. Maybe the money could be donated to them. - ChiCountryGuy - Monday, Jun 11, 07 @ 8:48 am: The Illinois Military Family Relief Fund and/or the Boy Scouts of America. - anon - Monday, Jun 11, 07 @ 8:52 am: Any charity mentioned would be good, but since we have to pick one, let’s pick one that has lost substantial funding from the state. Maybe even one who had its “fund” robbed, oh I mean “swept. - Doug Dobmeyer - Monday, Jun 11, 07 @ 8:54 am: Rich, I would suggest a homeless program that needs the money. Doug - Drew - Monday, Jun 11, 07 @ 8:57 am: The Illinois Military Family Relief Fund is a great idea! - game plan - Monday, Jun 11, 07 @ 9:05 am: I’m with Drew. Better yet, make sure it’s not even associated with anything that can be swept. - Tea Leaves - Monday, Jun 11, 07 @ 9:07 am: Bill must know something. - Latham Place - Monday, Jun 11, 07 @ 9:07 am: The Salvation Army or the Red Cross. - Long Time Reader; First Time Poster - Monday, Jun 11, 07 @ 9:09 am: The Lincoln Presidential Museum Library Foundation. This is the non-profit side of the institution that raises funds to purchase items of historical importance. - Ferdy - Monday, Jun 11, 07 @ 9:14 am: The League of Women Voters–Illinois - cynically anonymous - Monday, Jun 11, 07 @ 9:18 am: Another vote for the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund. Something good has to come out of the antics of this Administration - which will undoubtedly go down as the worst in the history of Illinois! - Still an Idealist - Monday, Jun 11, 07 @ 9:19 am: Habitat for Humanity of Illinois. More here: http://www.habitatillinois.org/aboutus.html - Southern Illinois Voter - Monday, Jun 11, 07 @ 9:19 am: Illinois Military Family Relief Fund is a great idea. However, I would like to suggest one - the American Cancer Society. I know there will be some that say, “Oh, they have administrative costs!” Yes, I’m sure they do, but how many lives have been saved by Pap smears, mammograms, PSA tests, etc., which were all discovered by ACS funds? Also I really don’t know any family that has not been touch in some way by this awful disease….just a thought. - Downstate - Monday, Jun 11, 07 @ 9:38 am: More urgent than a homeless shelter is feeding people. I vote for St. John’s breadline in Springfield. These wonderful folks are feeding 600 people a day, just steps from the state capitol. St. John’s is a continual reminder that people face a crisis each day that’s bigger than shelter, or heat - it’s having food to survive another 12 hours. A more worthy charity does not exist. - Beowulf - Monday, Jun 11, 07 @ 9:44 am: The Salvation Army or The Morningstar Mission in Joliet, Illinois. Both charities help those who are in dire need. - Arthur Andersen - Monday, Jun 11, 07 @ 9:55 am: Since Bill beat me to the punch on my first idea, I would cast a vote for the Military Family Relief Fund. - 6'2" Yeti - Monday, Jun 11, 07 @ 9:58 am: Operation Home Front Illinois Chapter - George Petruck - Monday, Jun 11, 07 @ 10:07 am: The United States Fund for UNICEF - Tessa - Monday, Jun 11, 07 @ 10:08 am: My vote goes to the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund. - Help my friend - Monday, Jun 11, 07 @ 10:15 am: A few weeks ago there were a bunch of organizations for the developmentally disabled that were set up on the first floor capitol. One of the residents of the Happiday Home in Chicago Heights approached me and asked that I listen to what he had to say about his home. I had never heard of this organization but he was persistant on telling me how he hoped people would donate to his home. A few hours later I took a turn down in the basement and ran into a large group going into the Rathskeller. Without missing a beat my new friend started thanking me for listening to him and for making a donation. Anyway, if for nothing else except that this kid is one “lobbyist” that I know was telling the truth, I would like to see their home considered for a donation. - Anonymous - Monday, Jun 11, 07 @ 10:19 am: Iroquois Association for Retarded Citizens in Watseka which provides services to our aunt… - Shadoobie - Monday, Jun 11, 07 @ 10:21 am: Well, I was going to say the Governor’s Mansion Foundation (the people who take care of the mansion). But, since no one’s living there, maintenance costs are down. A much more worthy cause would be Illinois Military Family Relief Fund and/or St. John’s Breadline. Rich, not that I’m trying to burden you with more administrative duties, but might you consider setting up a Paypal account for cash donations without having to buy something? Just a thought. - Skeeter - Monday, Jun 11, 07 @ 10:38 am: Springfield Sojourn Shelter. It seems like a great organization, it would be nice to get the focus back on Springfield in light of Blago’s rejection of the place. Organizations like that are chronically underfunded and can be a real lifeline in the neighborhoods. Second place would be Illinois Military Family Relief Fund. While it is hard to keep track of the all of the scandals in Illinois, didn’t one of them involve somebody getting a preference that should have gone to a vet? It would be nice to remedy that matter. - Little Egypt - Monday, Jun 11, 07 @ 11:05 am: Illinois Military Family Relief Fund - definitely. I remember reading somewhere that Blago has been very slow to release the funds, so perhaps we could come up with some other way to disperse the money and take it out of the control of our high leader. Bill, why on earth would your boy Blago need a legal defense fund? And furthermore, why would any sane person contribute to a lost cause. - Old Elephant - Monday, Jun 11, 07 @ 11:15 am: While Operation Homefront or the Military Family Relief Fund sounds good, I absolutely don’t think a cent should go to any state-administered fund. Sorry, but I just don’t trust anyone in this administration to actually get the money to veterans or their families and, frankly, even if the contribution were to make it’s way to some needy family, I suspect it would be offset by Filan reducing state funds in another area (lottery shell-game style). Keeping that in mind, I’ve got to think there are dozens of deserving private-sector military relief funds that can be donated to. If you do so, you at least will have some confidence that the money will actually reach those in need. - Ghost - Monday, Jun 11, 07 @ 12:00 pm: Locally: Sojourn or my favorite Make a Wish - Wumpus - Monday, Jun 11, 07 @ 12:09 pm: Charity who works 5 nights a week at Heavenly bodies. - i d - Monday, Jun 11, 07 @ 12:12 pm: St. John’s breadline - Ambulance chaser - Monday, Jun 11, 07 @ 12:14 pm: League of Women Voters, Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, or another good government group. The topic is dysfunctional government, so let’s put the coin towards improving the situation. - anonymous - Monday, Jun 11, 07 @ 12:35 pm: The American Red Cross. so one disaster can help several others - annoyed all the time - Monday, Jun 11, 07 @ 12:36 pm: I vote for Susan Komen Breast Cancer or Misericordia… - A Citizen - Monday, Jun 11, 07 @ 1:00 pm: Paul’s edukashun fund. - The Horse - Monday, Jun 11, 07 @ 1:24 pm: ok.. now without jumping my case… The Illinois Military Family Relief Fund doesnt need cash, they need the TROOPS HOME NOW. I know.. its a different time and a different war, but I went to canada, they all volunteered to be pawns of the oil cartel (whups, I meant defenders of america’s freedom).. How about P.O.R.A. great organization w wonderful track record. - WestSub - Monday, Jun 11, 07 @ 1:38 pm: American Red Cross — ditto what anon 12:35 said. - It's 5 O'clock somewhere - Monday, Jun 11, 07 @ 1:44 pm: Midwest Food Bank http://www.midwestfoodbank.org - Captain America - Monday, Jun 11, 07 @ 2:25 pm: Charity begins at home. I suggest a modest party/rally for Capitol Fax bloggers and Illinoze commnentators- possibly on Governor’s Day and Republican Day at the State Fair. I don’t know how many bloggers attend these events, but I usually attend Governor’s/Democrats” Day. - Drew - Monday, Jun 11, 07 @ 3:12 pm: I didn’t realize that the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund is administered by the State. With that in mind, I would agree with going with the Illinois Chapter of Operation Homefront. There is no greater way of supporting our troops than ensuring that their families are being taken care of while they fight for us. This is far too important a cause to risk having a single cent being swept by this joke of an administration. “The Horse”– Yes, let’s show our support for the troops by slamming their mission. For as poorly as Bush has administered the Iraq occupation, don’t be surprised when 90 percent of the military vote goes to the next Republican Presidential nominee…again. Speaking as a former military brat, it comes across a lot like a Saudi Prince handing Rudy Giuliani a check after 9/11 and then claim that it was America’s fault. - Rich Miller - Monday, Jun 11, 07 @ 3:17 pm: OK, that’s enough about Iraq, please. And, I like most of the suggestions so far, but y’all need to start actually BUYING some of the swag. - Lovie's Leather - Monday, Jun 11, 07 @ 6:57 pm: The Joke: Donate the money to Dick Durbin under an assumed illegal alien identity just to see what happens. The Serious: Ducks Unlimited. “Founded in 1937, Ducks Unlimited (DU) conserves, restores, and manages wetlands and associated habitats for North America’s waterfowl. These habitats also benefit other wildlife and people. Today, DU is the world’s largest and most effective private waterfowl and wetlands conservation organization. Backed by more than one million supporters, DU has raised over two billion dollars, which has contributed to the conservation of over 11 million acres of prime wildlife habitat in all 50 states, each of the Canadian provinces and in key areas of Mexico.” - Norseman - Monday, Jun 11, 07 @ 7:55 pm: Illinois Military Family Relief Fund - Bridget Dooley - Monday, Jun 11, 07 @ 11:52 pm: I am voting for an organization that helps folks get out of poverty over an organization that helps military families. Not that they don’t deserve it or need it, it’s just that they did in fact volunteer for the military and nobody volunteers to be poor. - Bridget Dooley - Monday, Jun 11, 07 @ 11:52 pm: Oh and I DID buy a shirt, so there. All ya’ll are a whole lot of talk and no action. - Citizen on Patrol - Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 4:34 am: St. John’s Breadline!!! Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.