“Help! We can’t find anybody to take our money,” said nobody ever. Oh, wait. We said that a few days ago!
As purveyors of adult entertainment, we are very accustomed to our businesses being harassed by local governments, church groups, and periodic hate mail. Things like hate mail, however amusing, simply come with the territory. We are not, however, accustomed to similar discrimination from so-called charities in desperate need of donations.
Our company, Deja Vu Services, Inc., is an adult entertainment and hospitality group involved with a variety of business ventures in 41 states and six countries. While I understand that strip clubs, adult retail stores, and other adult businesses are not everybody’s cup of tea, they are tax-paying, lawful, constitutionally protected businesses. You would be right to assume that they are also profitable. That’s why part of our company culture involves many philanthropic efforts totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars annually to worthy causes like the American Cancer Society, homeless shelters, food banks and dozens more. Our associates, managers, and worldwide family of more than 10,000 employees and 100,000 entertainers are proud of what we are able to do for our local communities as responsible corporate citizens.
A few months ago, a local Las Vegas charity gladly accepted a donation of bottled water costing us more than $10,000. We have made similar donations in the last year in other communities like Nashville, Tennessee, and Flint, Michigan. Bottled water, if you don’t know, is a highly valued commodity in the homeless community, and anybody who can afford to donate even a few cases should do so regularly!
Just recently, the same charity reached out to us, asking this time for a unique donation — bulk underwear. Underwear is also a high-need item for shelters. Without thinking, we immediately jumped at the opportunity and made a commitment to donate $10,000-plus, which would have provided enough underwear to last them at least a year. Our next instinct was to make this donation even larger by procuring additional underwear with an “underwear drive.” In short, we proposed that any guest at our locations throughout Las Vegas could donate in conjunction with a purchase. Our Purchasing Director Megan Swartz had arranged for thousands in additional donations from clothing vendors. We anticipated a $20,000-plus donation!
However, once this idea was discussed with the “executives” at the charity, we received a phone call saying that because they did not want to be “associated” with our “type” of business, they would be declining the donation. The irony, of course, is that not only were they in need of underwear, but the same poorly-operated charity was not shy to say that they faced a $400,000 budget deficit this year.
There are two words that describe their response: hypocrisy and sanctimony.
Does any rational person really think that the homeless community will really care who donated their underwear, bottled water, or supplies? That their God will care who the donor is as long as the donated items go to a good cause? That it makes sense to turn away needed supplies when the charity already has a severe problem making ends meet?
The answer is no. While I’m no churchgoer, I’m pretty sure they don’t tell sinners not to donate when the offering bucket comes around!
This hypocrisy is offensive, stupid, harmful and ultimately contradictory to the stated goals of any worthwhile charity. This charity should be ashamed of themselves for taking needed supplies out of the hands of the population they claim to serve because of a holier-than-thou, sanctimonious superiority complex.
Ryan Carlson is director of operations at Deja Vu Services, Inc.
