How your Magic River vacation helps those in need

Starting in April 2009, 20% of all Magic River rental fees are donated to worthy causes.

Sounds simple enough, doesn't it? But as soon as you say something simple like that, questions come up. Here are the ones we could think of: let us know if you have others.

Question: What worthy causes?

Answer: We are devoted to just one cause, and that is fighting poverty. Specifically, we believe in organizations that provide long-term solutions to breaking the "cycle of poverty": soup kitchens are wonderful, but we focus on job training and business loans.

We're starting with four charities that fill this need in very different ways.

• Opportunity International provides "micro-loans," enabling individuals to start their own small businesses.

• TechnoServe works at a larger scale, helping villages create businesses.

• Heifer Project International donates livestock.

• Habitat for Humanity builds affordable houses.

Question: 20% of what?

Answer: When you stay at Magic River, you pay us three different fees. One is the rental fee, which is based on how long you stay at the house. One is the $150 departure cleaning fee, and the third is the $250 security deposit, which is generally returned to you after your visit. (Click here for full pricing details.)

For what I hope are obvious reasons, we cannot donate 20% of the cleaning fee or security deposit. We donate 20% of your rental fee itself.

If you think we mean "20% of the net profit," you don't understand about Wintergreen rental houses. There is no profit: a Wintergreen house invariably costs more in maintenance than it generates in revenue.

Question: Did you just jack up the rental fee by 20% so your revenue stays the same?

Answer: Good question! That's what I would ask if I were you. But the answer is, no, we didn't. When we first started renting out the house (June 2006—almost three years ago!), we carefully looked around at the market, and set our prices to make Magic River one of the best values on the mountain. We have double-checked the market a couple of times since then. Overall, rental prices aren't changing—and neither have ours.

Question: So why are you doing this?

Answer: Poverty has always been a big issue for us, and we've always tried to donate what we can. By committing to 20% of all rental fees, we're setting a minimum donation that will rise as our revenue rises. And of course, by publicizing it in this way, we're hoping to attract a few like-minded people to rent our house.

(If you want to read Kenny's inflammatory views on poverty,

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