American Express Members Project 2008 - Special-Needs Causes Left Out
The American Express Members Project offers individuals a way to seek funding for causes close to their hearts. But when parents got out the vote for special-needs projects, they found that an advisory board had more power than they did, at least when it came to picking 25 semifinalists. Follow the controversy here, and learn more about six projects that were passed over.
Voters Put Special-Needs Groups in the Members Project Top 25
... and American Express kicked them right back out. Parents who put in an extraordinary effort to promote Cure Fragile X and Reece's Rainbow are crying foul. (9/11/08)
... and American Express kicked them right back out. Parents who put in an extraordinary effort to promote Cure Fragile X and Reece's Rainbow are crying foul. (9/11/08)
More Special-Needs Projects Dissed by American Express
Seven of the top 25 vote-getters were special-needs related. Only one made it to the advisory-panel-picked Top 25 semfinalists. What gives, AmEx? (9/25/08)
Seven of the top 25 vote-getters were special-needs related. Only one made it to the advisory-panel-picked Top 25 semfinalists. What gives, AmEx? (9/25/08)
Project: EE - Save Sick Children
The project was #2 in number of votes when the American Express Members Project Top 25 were chosen, with 6,720.
The project was #2 in number of votes when the American Express Members Project Top 25 were chosen, with 6,720.
Project: Cure Fragile X
The project was #5 in number of votes when the American Express Members Project Top 25 were chosen, with 3,331.
The project was #5 in number of votes when the American Express Members Project Top 25 were chosen, with 3,331.
Project: Fight Obesity With a Cure for PWS
The project was #16 in number of votes when the American Express Members Project Top 25 were chosen, with 2,685.
The project was #16 in number of votes when the American Express Members Project Top 25 were chosen, with 2,685.
Project: No More Insulin Shots Required
The project was #19 in number of votes when the American Express Members Project Top 25 were chosen, with 2,334.
The project was #19 in number of votes when the American Express Members Project Top 25 were chosen, with 2,334.
Video: Life Without Food
Parents and kids discuss what life is like with Eosiniphilic Gastrointestinal Disorder (EGIDs), which leaves them unable to eat much and dependent on feeding tubes and formula for nutrition.
Parents and kids discuss what life is like with Eosiniphilic Gastrointestinal Disorder (EGIDs), which leaves them unable to eat much and dependent on feeding tubes and formula for nutrition.
Video: Fragile X - Hitting the Mark
Parents talk about their children with Fragile X Syndrome, and their hopes for a cure.
Parents talk about their children with Fragile X Syndrome, and their hopes for a cure.
Video: Prader-Willi Syndrome
A mother shares a tribute to her son who struggles with Prader-Willi Syndrome, a life-threatening birth defect that affects appetite, muscle tone, behavior and general health.
A mother shares a tribute to her son who struggles with Prader-Willi Syndrome, a life-threatening birth defect that affects appetite, muscle tone, behavior and general health.
Video: Diabetes With No Finger Pricks
A CBS Early Show report on an artificial pancreas that would free people with Type 1 diabetes from constant finger-pricks for blood testing.
A CBS Early Show report on an artificial pancreas that would free people with Type 1 diabetes from constant finger-pricks for blood testing.
Video: Reece's Rainbow
A video focuses on the work of Reece's Rainbow to find adoptive homes for children with Down syndrome in international orphanages.
A video focuses on the work of Reece's Rainbow to find adoptive homes for children with Down syndrome in international orphanages.
Video: Fight Spinal Muscular Atrophy
In a YouTube video, a family shares the story of their child with spinal muscular atrophy, as experts discuss the need for research to find a cure.
In a YouTube video, a family shares the story of their child with spinal muscular atrophy, as experts discuss the need for research to find a cure.
AmEx to Disabled Children: Drop Dead
From the blog Simple Justice: "No doubt there were plenty of caveats in the fine print of the sort that would make any contract action subject to dispute. However, this fails entirely to addresses the fact that American Express engaged in an intentional fraud, gained a tangible benefit, and screwed disabled children, amongst others, in the process." (9/15/08)
From the blog Simple Justice: "No doubt there were plenty of caveats in the fine print of the sort that would make any contract action subject to dispute. However, this fails entirely to addresses the fact that American Express engaged in an intentional fraud, gained a tangible benefit, and screwed disabled children, amongst others, in the process." (9/15/08)
American Express: Scam
In his blog Simple Justice, attorney Scott H. Greenfield writes that the Members Project is less a laudable philanthropic effort than hard-core self-promotion. (9/11/08)
In his blog Simple Justice, attorney Scott H. Greenfield writes that the Members Project is less a laudable philanthropic effort than hard-core self-promotion. (9/11/08)