Statistically speaking, Matawan, Aberdeen and Keyport residents are pretty generous. But on average, township residents gave away less of their income to charity than their counterparts across the county, state and nation.
Residents with the zip code 07747, which includes Matawan and areas of Aberdeen, ranked 20,487 of 28,725 American towns studied as part of an analysis released Monday by The Chronicle of Philanthropy. Residents with the zip code 07735, which includes Cliffwood Beach and Keyport, ranked 20,869.
The data, analyzed from figures in 2008, showed Cliffwood Beach and Keyport as a whole donated $5.5 million to charitable charges, or 3.2 percent of their disposable income of 44,332. The average family donated $1,427.
In Matawan and Aberdeen with zip code 07747, residents gave away $16.4 million to charity, with the median family donating 3.3 percent of their disposable income of $62,617. The average family donated $2,053.
But despite the generosity compared to cross-country averages, Matawan, Aberdeen, and Keyport residents donated a bit less percentage-wise than the Monmouth County average of 4.2 percent, the New Jersey state average of 3.7 percent, or the US average, 4.7 percent.
Overall, as residents' income levels increased, the percentage of that income that was given away decreased. The most charitable individuals and families were those making between $50,000 and $99,999.
In zip code 07747, households donated 5.5 percent of their income to charity, and in 07735, they donated an average of 4.2 percent.
Those making between $100,000 to $199,999 gave away 2.9 percent in 07747, and 2.7 percent in 07735.
And those making $200,000 in 07747 donated 2.2 percent. In 07735, they donated 1.7 percent3
The 45-64 age group donated the most, followed by people under 20.
The study was based on Internal Revenue Service records of Americans who itemized deductions in 2008.
In taking a broad look, the study found that Utah residents gave 10.6 percent of their disposable income away to charitable causes, the most in the nation; the Upper East Side of Manhattan's 10021 donated the highest dollar amount of any zip code; and New Hampshire residents were the most tight-fisted, giving away only 2.5 percent of discretionary income.
More on the study can be found at the Journal of Philanthropy's "How America Gives" website.
When I look at charitable donations, I see the work of the houses of worship to feed our hungry, and the citizens to clean the beaches, become Big Brothers and Big Sisters, run the myriad of events to provide assistance to chronically underfunded programs like Special Education, give of their time and talents to groups like the Salvation Army, the American Red Cross and their local CERT teams. (Amongst my very large and far flung family, they think I'm exaggerating when I tell them tales of the things we do here in the Garden State). I'd be interested if some organization did a study on non-monetary charitable work.
Especially in times like these, people are having to get creative with their local charitable contributions. The Waltons used to make each other's Christmas gifts. We cut back on gift giving and give more of our time and talents and a little bit less of our cash.