We at Good Tidings Charity (GTC) respect your concerns about privacy and value the relationship we have with you. This Privacy Notice describes the various types of personal information we collect on our website, how we may utilize that information, and with whom we may share it with. Our Privacy Notice also describes the actions we take to defend the security of that information. In addition, we describe the options you have about how we use the information that you offer to us. We also advise you how you can reach us to update your contact information, remove your name from our mailing lists, or answer any questions you may have about our privacy practices.


Information We Collect and How We Use It

You may choose to provide any personal information; such as your name, physical address, telephone number and e-mail address on this website. Listed below are the ways you may choose to provide the information and the types of information you may offer. We also tell you how we may use the information.

E-mail Communications

When you ask us to send you e-mail such as invitations, notifications or e-mail newsletters, you may provide us with certain information like your e-mail address so we can complete your request. You may choose to offer additional information as well, such as your physical address and telephone number. 


Donations

When you make a donation through our website (for example, by sponsoring a child), we may ask you to submit certain personal information (such as credit card information) so we can process your donation. We use the credit card information you provide only to complete the transaction you requested. We preserve that information in our customer service records in the event you choose to make another donation later. We also preserve your contact information in our records so we can contact you to provide information about our Give Me Wings program and additional information on other giving opportunities. 

Questionnaires and Surveys

We occasionally may ask guests to our website to complete online surveys and opinion polls about their activities, attitudes and interests. These surveys assist us in understanding the needs of our guests. We do not keep any personal information about you in relation with your involvement in a website survey unless you explicitly agree to offer this information. 


Contact Good Tidings Charity

You may decide to contact us through our website. We provide online forms so you may: (1) ask us a question, (2) update your contact information or (3) request for additional information. We use the information you offer on these forms to complete your request and to reply to your inquiries. 

Cookies and Web Beacons

When you visit our website, your browser automatically sends us certain Internet-related information (such as the Internet Protocol (IP) address of the computer you’re using). We may also use cookies and Web beacons to improve our understanding of how our guests use our website.
Cookies are small text files that websites often store on the computer hard drives of guests to their sites. A cookie contains a unique code, which is used to recognize your computer when a user of your computer returns to a website that was visited previously. Web beacons are Internet tools that help us verify, for example, whether a website page has been viewed. We use cookies and Web beacons to improve the online experience of our guests and to further understand how our website is used. Cookies and Web beacons may tell us, for example, whether you have visited our website before or whether you are a new visitor.
The “help” portion of the toolbar on most browsers will tell you how to stop accepting new cookies, how to be notified when you receive a new cookie, and how to disable existing cookies. Remember, though, without cookies, you may not be able to take full advantage of all of Good Tidings Charity’s (GTC’s) website features.

Information We Share

Good Tidings Charity (GTC) will not sell, rent, trade or otherwise release personal information about our website visitors, except as described here. We share information provided by our website visitors with service providers we have retained to perform services on our behalf; for example, to process donations. We do not authorize these service providers to use or release the information except as needed to perform services on our behalf or to meet the terms of legal requirements. Furthermore, we may release information about you (i) if we are required to do so by law, (ii) in response to a request from law enforcement authorities or other government officials, or (iii) when we believe disclosure is necessary or appropriate to prevent physical harm or financial loss or in connection with an investigation of suspected or actual illegal activity. 
We reserve the right to transfer any information we have about you in the event we sell or transfer all or a portion of our business or assets. Should such a sale or transfer occur, we will use sensible efforts to try to direct the transferee to utilize personal information you have offered through this website in such a way that is consistent with this Privacy Notice.

Links to Other Sites

Occasionally, we provide links to other websites for your information and convenience. These websites operate independently from our site and are not under our control. These websites may have their own privacy notices in place, which we strongly suggest you review if you visit any linked websites. We will not be responsible for the content of these sites, any products or services that may be provided through these sites, or any other use of these sites.

Security

We maintain administrative, technical and physical safeguards to protect against unauthorized disclosure, use, alteration or destruction of the personal information in our possession. When you provide credit card information to make a donation, we use the industry standard for Internet security -- Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology -- to help protect the information you provide. This Internet encryption standard scrambles data as it travels from your computer to our server. Please note, however, that perfect security does not exist on the Internet. You will know that you’re in a secure area of our website when a “lock” icon appears on your screen and the “http” portion of our URL address changes to “https.” The “s” stands for “secure.” 

Your Choices

If you would like to update your contact information or prefer not to receive certain communications from us (such as e-mail), please call or write us using one of the options provided below or visit www.gtcharity.org.

Updates to this Privacy Notice

We may alter or update portions of this Privacy Notice at any time and without prior notice to you. Please check back from time to time so you are aware of any alterations or updates to the Notice. We will indicate below the effective date of the Notice.

How to Contact Us

If you would like us to update your contact information or remove your name from our e-mail or postal mailing lists, or if you have any questions about our information practices, please contact us by
visiting www.gtcharity.org or writing us at:

Good Tidings Charity
P.O. Box 300101
Houston, TX 77230
PRIVACY NOTICE EFFECTIVE DATE: 7/1/08