Flood of tsunami donations didn't hurt local charities

Predictions that international tsunami relief efforts would damage local charities have not come to pass, say officials who report donations have been as strong as ever.

"We're great," said Marlene Prendergast, vice president of development at the Hospice of the Chesapeake in Millersville. While current numbers aren't available, she said there was a "significant" increase in donations from this time last year, and she planned in the budget for at least a 20 percent increase.

"We are reaching younger people, which is really extraordinary," she said. "We receive hundreds of memorial gifts in a week. The majority of people keep...