ColourBar
Go to Top

Frequently Asked Questions

Click below for information on these topics:

If you have a question that is not answered here, email us at info@tbvets.org, and we will get back to you right away.

Donations

Q: How much do I have to donate to get a charitable tax receipt?

A: TB Vets accepts and will receipt donations of any dollar amount. To reduce costs, we only send tax receipts automatically to those who donate $25 or more. If you would like to receive a receipt for a donation of less than $25, please let us know and we will be happy to issue one to you.

Q: Where does my money go?

A: TB Vets puts your donation to work by providing respiratory equipment to BC hospitals, supporting the education of BC's respiratory therapy students, funding BC researchers studying tuberculosis, and providing employment to people with disabilities right here in BC. Please visit the Serving BC section of our site for more details.

Q: How much of my donation is used for administration costs?

A: TB Vets works hard to ensure that the highest percentage of your donation goes back into BC communities. Our organization is run by a dedicated volunteer Board of Directors and in 2004 only 6.8% of your donations were used for administration and advertising. Click here to see our most recent Financial Statements.

Go to Top

History and Veteran Involvement

Q: When did TB Vets get started?

A: The Tuberculosis and Chest Disabled Veterans' Association, better known as TB Vets, was incorporated on December 15, 1945, and started sending keytags to British Columbians in 1946.

Q: How did TB Vets get started?

A: Many World War veterans returned from overseas service with tuberculosis and other respiratory ailments and had a hard time finding work. Members of BC's Royal Canadian Legion TVS (Tubercular Veterans Section) Branch created a separate organization called TB Vets. TB Vets provided jobs to the disabled veterans. Today, TB Vets continues to provide jobs to people with disabilities. Our founding veterans wouldn't have it any other way.

Q: Where did TB Vets get the idea for a key return service?

A: In 1946, members of the Tubercular Veterans Section of the Royal Canadian Legion went to a conference in Ontario, where they met the Disabled American Veterans (DAV). The DAV had run a key return service in the United States for some time. The veterans returned to BC inspired. They soon created TB Vets and developed a key return service for BC.

Q: World War II was a long time ago. Who is making my keytag now?

A: In the 1970s, as the veterans started to retire, they decided that TB Vets would continue to provide employment for people with disabilities. Like the veteran workers before them, our staff with disabilities are dedicated to the services they provide for British Columbians.

Q: How are veterans involved today?

A: Veterans and their families are involved as volunteer Directors and members of the TB Vets organization. The few original founding veterans alive today are pleased to see that the organization they started in 1945 has grown to help save the lives of so many people across BC. Click here to learn more about our charitable programs.

Go to Top

Keytag Program

Q: I didn't get a Keytag this year. What do I do?

A: Go to our Keytag Order Form to order keytags, or call 1-888-874-5626 to speak to our order desk. We try to keep our database as accurate and up-to-date as possible, but sometimes we make mistakes. If we have made a mistake with your keytag order. let us know. We will correct the problem right away.

Q: I found lost keys. What do I do?

A: Lost keys with a TB Vets Keytag on them can be dropped in any Canada Post mailbox. You don't have to put them in an envelope--just drop them in. The keys are sent back to us, and we send them out to the rightful owner.

Q: How do my keys get returned to me?

A: When a set of keys is lost with a TB Vets Keytag on the key ring, the Good Samaritan who finds the keys simply places the keys in any mailbox and Canada Post delivers the keys to us. One of our Keytag representatives then matches the secret number on the Keytag with the owner's name and address in our computerized system and mails the keys back to their rightful owner.

Q: How long does it take to get my keys back?

A: We guarantee that your keys will be in the mail and on their way back to you within two working days from the time Canada Post delivers them to us. The Good Samaritan, however, works on his own timeline.

Q: How do I get extra Keytags for other members of my family?

A: You can either order duplicate Keytags with your Keytag number or request new Keytags be issued for each member of your household. Please note that different Keytags would mean that each member of your household would receive their own Keytag mailing next year. Call 1-888-874-5626 to speak with one of our Keytag representatives.

Go to Top

Legion Keytags

Q: What is the relationship between TB Vets and the Legion?

A: TB Vets has partnered with the Legion Foundation, BC/Yukon to create a unique Keytag for Legionnaires of this province. Each organization remains separate. We have partnered in order to bring Keytags to more people in BC and to be able to provide funding for our charitable purposes.

Q: How did you get my name?

A: The Legion Foundation, BC/Yukon saw the value in a key return service for their members and a fundraising opportunity. They provide TB Vets with a list of names and we mail a Legion Keytag to those people.

Q: How does this program work?

A: TB Vets produces and mails the Keytags, provides the key return service and processes the donations. After costs, TB Vets and the Legion Foundation split the proceeds in order to fund each of our charitable purposes.

Go to Top

Planned Giving

Q: What is a planned gift?

A: A planned gift is a significant gift that you plan to give now or in the future to TB Vets Charitable Foundation. A planned gift is a thoughtful, well-planned, tax-wise donation that achieves your philanthropic and estate planning objectives. Click here for ideas on how you can make a planned gift.

Q: Why is planned giving important?

A: A planned gift is the ultimate expression of your values and of your support for TB Vets' mission and valuable community programs. Planned gifts help TB Vets fund research, treatment and prevention of tuberculosis and other respiratory ailments long into the future.

Go to Top

Privacy

Q: Does TB Vets share my name with other charities?

A: No. TB Vets only uses your personal information to give you a Keytag, and return your keys should they be lost. We never share, trade or sell your information. Please see our privacy policy for more information.

Go to Top

Return Address Labels

Q: Who produces your address labels?

A: TB Vets address labels are printed in-house. Our dedicated staff, made up of people with a variety of disabilities, receive your order, type in your address, produce your labels and package them to be mailed to you.

Q: How can I receive seasonal address labels?

A: To order your personalized set of seasonal labels, call 1-888-874-5626 to speak with one of our representatives.

Go to Top

SecuriTags

Q: How do SecuriTags work?

A: SecuriTags are small self-adhering tags printed with your Driver's Licence number. Attach the tags to almost any clean, dry surface and allow 24-48 hours for the glue to set. These tags are an alternative to engraving and can be used on fragile items that cannot be engraved.

Q: Why should I mark my property with my Driver's Licence number?

A: The number on your driver's licence allows police all over North America to verify your name and address right from their police cars. This means that if thieves are caught with your property, the police can arrest them and return your valuable possessions.

Q: What household items are most vulnerable to theft?

A: Thieves who break into your home or car are after small items they can quickly convert to cash. The top items on their hit list are CDs, cameras, video games, walkmans, palm pilots, cell phones and other small electronic items. Next are televisions, sound systems, VCRs, computers, tools, figurines, stamp and coin collections and valuable artwork.

Go to Top

TB Vets' Name

Q: What does TB Vets stand for?

A: Our name comes from the original veterans with tuberculosis who started our organization in December 1945. The full original name was the Tuberculous & Chest Disabled Veterans Association, more commonly known as TB Veterans Association or simply TB Vets.

Our full name today is TB Vets Charitable Foundation. While we have always been a non-profit organization, we became an official registered charity in the 1990s. This name honours the original veterans who started the organization and shows that we can now issue tax receipts for your donations.

Tuberculosis Research

Q: What research does my donation support?

A: TB Vets provides funding to two tuberculosis research labs in Vancouver. One labs seeks to have a better understanding of the tuberculosis bacillus itself, in order to learn better ways to attack it, and one lab seeks to develop a more effective TB vaccine. Visit our research page to learn more.

Q: Do these labs test on animals?

A: No. Both labs focus on microbiology. That is, they are looking at germs and bacteria in test tubes. No animal testing occurs at these labs.

TB Vets:
 Helping BC Breathe Since 1946 Your donations provide BC with respiratory equipment, research and education. Learn more...

Keytags

TB Vets News

Newsletters

Events

 

 

Tel: 604-874-5626 | Toll-Free: 1-888-874-5626 | E-mail: info@tbvets.org
All Content © 2000-2008 TBVets - All Rights Reserved - Media | Careers | Member Login | Site Map | Privacy TBVets.org TBVets.org
ColourBar