Has the Developer made Significant Charitable Contributions
 

The question was raised in another thread about whether or not the Developer had made some contributions for the good of humanity as a whole such as building a new school or hospital which will not directly benefit themselves financially other than maybe being named after them. The post went on to say that maybe we would all feel better if we knew more about the generosity shown by the Developer when it did not directly benefit him/them.

I have never heard about the Morses supporting a charity, and am really curious if they do so. We hear so much about the 4 jets he owns, the multi million dollar yacht, his ownership of the Villages banks, local newspaper, a television channel and an AM radio station. His realty company controls 60 percent of the re-sale market in the Villages. He even owns the utility company. And before someone jumps in and says he deserves it all, he's such a wonderful businessman, don't bother. I agree - he knows his financial P's and Q's. That's not what this post is about. But why do we hear nothing about charitable contributions? The guy is supposedly worth $2.5 billion. If we Google other billionaires we see plenty of charity donations - look at Gates, Buffet. Bloomberg, Ted Turner, and others. But I can't come up with a single charitable donation from the Morses. :undecided:

And just why would that be any of your business???

And why is this of any importance? Really. Just because anyone has worked hard and earned money, why are they obligated to do something that we have to know about? Do we really know what they do with their money? Why do we have to know....just so we can either feel badly towards them or smug about ourselves and what we, as non-millionaires, might be doing to help others? We really don't know their personal financial dealings and mere speculation might make some feel good or bad, but it is only that, speculation.

It may not be important to you, but it obviously is to some people. Charitable contributions are considered a good thing in our society. Society looks askance at stingy people and values those who give their time and money to others in order to make the world a better place. In age of technology it is so easy to find public records of the many wealthy people and their contributions, I found it curious that nothing comes up for the Morses. Of course he is not obligated to contribute to the world's well being like some of the other billionaires have done.

This thread is just another attempt to try to bash Gary Morse & his family.

It appears there are more people that could care less that the one that does. I personally think that if they do make contributions, it is of no concern to anyone but them.

:cus::cus:I really think it is none of your business what he does with his money.

I applaud those billionaires and others from the Top 1% who do give to charities but the Morses have provided many Villagers with what seems to me to be wonderful retirement experiences. That is a kind of service to people IMHO.

I would bet that they do make charitable contributions however to whatever causes they believe in. These have great tax benefits so I would assume that their tax advisors have them making some kind of contributions.

Nothing comes up that we can see, but again, contributions could be made anonymously. Really, at least in my estimation, it boils down to emotions, we feel good when those with, give to those without and if those with, don't do as we feel they should, we feel badly towards them. No individual is obligated to provide their funds to others...doing so is a wonderful thing for those who benefit....but we have no idea what goes on financially with our community developer and to be perfectly frank, we don't have the right to know his financial obligations, contributions, etc. In my opinion, this situation with "them" and "us" is more emotional than anything else......people need scapegoats, makes them feel better about themselves and their situations. Mike and I worked hard for what we have....the Morses have done the same. All here have worked over the years and have decided, of their own choosing, to move to TV to enjoy what a hard working family has brought together. It isn't a country club, a resort, it's our home. Nothing is free, it wasn't where we left. Why do some expect that just because the builder has earned $$, he owes? Not picking on you, Mickey, you asked a legitimate question. It just gets tedious hearing the I'm/we're "owed" so often. Okay, I'm stepping off my soapbox now....:laugh:

Why are so many people so hung up on The Family? You live here in a development they built, you do whatever you want to do, you join and participate in clubs and entertainment that probably would not have been available in your home town. I presume you are enjoying your life here! Then, get over it, get on with your own lives and leave them alone.

Contributions
 

I think that's a good question. Why don't we see anything about contributions from the Morse? I hear they do make huge political contributions but I wouldn't call that a benefit to our society.

Just what I was thinking!

mickey100, is there a particular website(s) you used to search for the charities Morse or his family use for contributions?

Perhaps we don't "see" any charitable contributions made by the Morses because they don't make them.

Or perhaps they do it far out of the public eye.

I did find that his wife who died of cancer and for whom The Sharon Morse Hospital was named was involved in charity.

See here;

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/...se-home-sharon

I will add that it seems to ME that Gary Morse and most of his family avoid any public appearances and do not seek attention to themselves. I would guess that would or could spill over to any good works that they MIGHT do perhaps privately.

It does look like I am a shill, doesn't it Mickey?

I did a general google search for morse, the villages and their corporation. There may be stuff out there and its just not coming up, who knows; I just wondered if anyone else was aware of anything because I can't seem to locate anything, which is rather strange.

No, I would consider that a personal thing.

Why would we want to know this & why would we care ?

No one said anyone "owed" anything, or implied it. But I do have so much respect people of wealth who are trying to make our world a better place by using their wealth to do wonderful things like give vaccines to children in poor countries, helping education , etc,. I look at the Gates Foundation and have to applaud their generosity. It is human nature to look favorably upon people who try to do good in the world.

I don't know if the Morse family contributes to charities, or not. Just because it is not common knowledge as to their degree of generosity, does not mean that they do not contribute generously. They may choose to do so discretely, for whatever reasons that they do. Regardless, I consider it to be none of my business, and it has no bearing on my charitable contribution choices.

Who cares IF he donated to charity. He built a wonderful place for us to live, he built the Hospital we go to, the cancer wing that was added. He paid for road construction outside the Villages, he built a great Charter School, he's putting up money for Moorse Blvd to connect with Florida Tpk etc. I believe all these things that we know of have been quite charitable. As to WHAT charity he may or may not support I could care less and I'm certain many others feel the same way.

Would you mind opening up your finances and investments to the rest of us and then allowing us to see if a large enough percentage of YOUR income was given to charity. I would also like to see your tax returns for the past 7 years. If you would be so kind, please give us your account numbers and all of your pin numbers so we can verify everything. By the way..you did ask for a receipt each time you put some money into the red canisters at Christmas time, didn't you? Give me a break.

Agree -- done more for the surrounding areas than anyone before him!

Of all the threads on TOTV, this one bothers me more than any of the ones I have ever read. To think that some would Google to find out if someone has made any charitable contributions just because they have made a lot of money. This is truly something that is VERY personal and definitely non of anyones business !! Who is next to be Googled ? :ohdear:

Well put. Still believe the Morses' tax lawyers would have them giving to charity for the tax benefits it provides. Probably something like their alma maters or local schools and universities, hospitals, etc.

Agree, not any of my business and not changing my way of thinking.
Not any of my business what they do with there money.

When I donate to charity I feel it is a private matter. Perhaps, as others have noted, they feel the same. However, you have every right to ask the question without a tons of bricks coming down on you. I would hope anyone would be able to feel comfortable asking a question on this forum.

I do admire folks who give back, without financial gain to themselves. Don't most of us? You made some good observations regarding other billionaires.

Have a Blessed St Patrick's Day.

William Hutton



“I have come to the conclusion that charity is only charity when you give goods, services or money without personal gain, benefit or recognition of any kind. True charity is anonymous.

Families with that kind of wealth tend to set up charitable foundations ans you don't hear a lot about the specifics. It's really nobody's business and as long as the IRS is happy no one else needs to know. Do you give 10% of your income to your church? is it any of my business and how exactly does it affect me?

Thank you. How funny and sad, really, that a simple question about the Developer's philanthropy has raised such ire and meanness from "the friendly" Villagers.

Well, as a fellow billionaire, I want to say a few words in defense of the Morse's and myself....What?....wait....I'm not a billionaire?.....not a millionaire?....just, gasp, middle class?!!! Oh dear, you sure know how to take the wind out of a person's sails. (But I still defend both of our rights to privacy)

Wow!
 

My apologies to the OP. America's Friendliest town. Could not tell from this thread.

It was a simple question, one that obviously had some thought put into it and I believe deserved a respectful answer and if you don't have one, don't say anything. Sometimes not saying anything is a more powerful message...please note the number of times I have posted.

As for my 2 cents, I would say to the OP, outside of Florida, most do not know the Morse Family and a lot of wealthy and those of us that are not so wealthy like me give to charity anonymously. I too have a lot of admiration to those that give big to charities, but there is also something to be said about doing it in a quiet and humble way.

Best regards-Katie

I haven't read anyone being mean in commenting on the OP's question, but when you ask a provocative question you will get strong opinions back. I agree with those who say it isn't any of our business. Why is it people with wealth are held to a different standard? I certainly don't want anyone snooping into my finances and judging me, good or bad, it's none of anyone's business.

Welcome to the forum
Your 1st post
Your 1st day. just now signed up. ?

I'm sorry. I really disagree ! Any time people start Googling people about their money, it's not right. I can't imagine wondering what you do with your money anymore than anyone should wonder what I do with my money or what the Morse's do with their money.
BTW, welcome to the forum. :)

...

On the broader topic of charity... Wouldn't the most charitable donations be given to organizations or persons with no connection to your own family or faith? Giving to your own church or to a medical organization researching a disease you have or the symphony or zoo you regularly visit is wonderful. Giving to some distant and non-personal charity, IMO, is more credit worthly. Charity in making the world a better place with no other benefit for yourself seems to be the highest form of giving. It needn't be money. Sometimes your time is the best gift to give. However, in Western culture there is a tradition of the nobility being expected to give back to the less well off (noblesse oblige). That is what the OP was asking. Carnegie built libraries, Rockefeller created the Rockefeller Foundation to promote the well-being of humanity. The OP listed several present examples of the wealthy giving back to the general well being, not just to charities that give the donor a direct benefit. It was in that spirit that I hope the question was asked and not that the "family" strongly financially supports the political party which promotes a decreased role of govenment in supporting the less fortunate with the burden to be taken up by private charities and organizations.

:popcorn: Be careful this thread doesn't turn political.

I believe it is more important to be concerned about what "I" am doing to make the world a better place then what others or doing or not doing.:)

Googled my name
 

Hey I googled my name & charitable contribution.
Nothing came up
How can that be.
Sarah Mclachlan alone gets in my wallet on a regular bases.
Can it be that the internet / google ain't the end all know all.

I might like to contribute to some of the charities the Morses do because... well, they might be areas I am interested in, or I might like to support charities he is interested in because I think he has done a great job and I could join him in his areas of charitable interest.

There are many reasons why someone might Google what charities a wealthy person contributes to, and I don't think it's wrong to do so. In fact, I might try to find out if he supports anything in MI, since he's from there. I might find a charity in like to, since we have lived there since 1987 but didn't hear about him till we came down here.

JMHO