Charitable giving in the United States will total $250 billion this year but organizations that support the poor are seeing less money, ABC News reports. Lavish parties dot the New York social calendar during December, as charities seek funds and people -- mostly wealthy people -- begin to consider the tax benefits of such giving. They are certainly giving, but the causes are sometimes questioned. For instance, while donations overall are up, ABC said, contributions to charities that deal with the poor have dropped 8 percent, the third consecutive year of declines. Trent Stamp, who runs a non-profit Web site called the Charity Navigator, told the network: "For the most part, the large donor, the wealthy donor has turned away from these types of charities. Nobody wants to be seen at the local homeless shelter, but they would like to be seen at the symphony hall." © Copyright 2005 by United Press International

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