PG County gives more than Montgomery

Prince George's County is the fifth highest giver of donations to charitable and religious associations in the country, according to the Washington Post.

PG county residents give an average of 16.7% of their income to charities which for their county is about $3,443 for an average income of $20,615. The only county ahead of PG County was Fauquier County at 18.9% but Fauquier County has a much smaller population than PG.

Fairfax County and Montgomery County, two of the most wealthiest and prosperous counties in the country gave some of the lowest donations. The median household income for somebody living in Fairfax is $81,000 and they donated around 6.3% of their income to charities. Montgomery County gave at about the same rate, 6.7%.

PG County is one of the wealthiest majority black counties in the country and black people give 25% more of their income to charity than white people. Religion played a large role in the donations with 3/4 of the donations going to religious causes.

At Jericho City of Praise in Landover most members give about 10% of their earnings to the church. The donations to the church are not only for religious purposes there are many social programs sponsered by the church, as well. Some of the programs include, a drug ministry, after school care and a holiday food give away.

Researchers have notice a "U-shaped" giving pattern where the people at the bottom and at the top give the most while the people in the middle give the least.

To learn more go to http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A50753-2003Apr28.html