Reuters Photojournalism
Our day's top images, in-depth photo essays and offbeat slices of life. See the best of Reuters photography. See more | Photo caption
Ethiopia's salt trails
For centuries merchants have traveled to Ethiopia to collect salt from the surface of the vast desert basin. Slideshow
Sponsored Links
Diamond ring dropped in Salvation Army kettle in Florida
(Reuters) - Talk about ringing in the holidays.
An anonymous donor dropped a diamond-and-sapphire ring worth $2,000 into a Salvation Army kettle in suburban Miami on Friday, the charity said on its Facebook page.
The ring, tucked inside a $50 bill, was wrapped inside a note that read: "They need more than I. Do good! A Friend."
It is not the first time this year that a generous donor has surreptitiously slipped jewelry into one of the charity's kettles.
Earlier this month, someone dropped a 3/4-carat diamond in a kettle outside a Walmart store in Shawnee, Kansas, a suburb of Kansas City. That ring also appraised for $2,000.
Over the years, other items besides cash and checks have appeared in Salvation Army kettles, including gold bars, gold coins and wads of cash, according to the charity.
(Reporting by James B. Kelleher)
- Tweet this
- Link this
- Share this
- Digg this
- Reprints
Did it ever occur to any of the news organizations that these stories of anonymous generosity may have been created in order to get publicity, to encourage others to imitate such charitable acts?
Is there any journalistic fact-checking or investigation going on in regards to these claims of anonymous generosity? Or do reporters simply repeat the information in these self-serving press releases, generating yet another feel-good story for the holidays.
O yes, there are generous people in the world who act anonymously and they are to be appreciated. But is it not within the realm of possibility that some of these stories may be false? Or is this the kind of story where news organizations are simply to roll over and play dead, suspending the usual requirements of journalism that some measure of fact-checking and proof is necessary before going to print?
Is it not conceivable that those trying to advance the cause of legitimate charities might be tempted to fabricate such stories as this?
Follow Reuters