First of all, thanks for expressing your opinion freely. A candid and frank discussion can definitely lead to success at any forum.

I am not here to defend ANA's practices. Considering I have been to the ANA Convention several times, I have seen a lot of money flow into the convention, but not much seems to come out of it. However, they have made tremendous efforts to contact the diaspora and be more reachable in the past few years. To illustrate some of the current and past projects they have undertaken, you can go to their web site:

(That list also includes the Koshi flood victims--an issue you seem to be very concerned about)

Even though their transparency has not been great, they are still a credible resource for the family in Texas. ANA represents Nepali people, and using it as a resource in time of need has no negatives to it.

Second of all, there's a widely spread myth that "Everyone with a greencard or everyone in the United States is well off and folks in the United States have a better life". Better opportunity, yes. Better freedom, yes. Better life? Not necessarily. Not for everyone at least. I have seen countless families that are very unhappy with their situation in the United States. You can't just make a generalized statement regarding this.

Third of all, I don't want to stay here and defend all the goods (or bads) I have done. I don't want to defend my personal character in this either. It's no one's business on how I express my care and concerns about the people of Nepal and how I decide to help someone. I will tell you, however, that my family members lost their house and had to relocate because of the flood. Once again, this goes to the point about making a generalized statement about everyone that is in the United States. You're in the US, and I'm sure you've seen that not everyone has a generalized lifestyle in America. It is no El Dorado with golden streets and prosperity everywhere for everyone. We all have different stories.

Lastly, these families need our support, and not arguments saying they don't have it bad, and that folks have it worse. They don't deserve comparison, they deserve support.

(P.S. I am not going to place a bet with with you @BlingBling. If you feel like you can donate that much money to a cause, please be free to do it. It'll be for the good.)

(P.P.S. I don't work at a gas station.)