In the US, it is a tax write off & status symbol and you have the challenges of what percentage actually reached the poor.
In India, many huge groups do help in the society. Like the TATA group has employed members of the victims of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, not just the victims that died in the Taj Hotel (Tata owned). Even the families of the cops kills also got something. These are on top of the financial aid given. Handicapped service members (soldiers who are hurt during duty) are extensively employed in the private sector. Basically in India, we believe in teaching a person to fish instead of supplying them free fish. Its actually a rule for Govt entities and most private firms, if a person who is employed dies during on-duty or off-duty. A member of the family will get a job. Basically they help another member of the family to be employed to replace the lost revenue. These efforts are never accounted.
Tata's are pioneers and a model company that all Indian companies aspire to follow. There are many examples of this involving other groups. Actors like Nana Patekar has adopted villages.
As per the Vedic culture, you actually have to help the needy yourself and not make someone else to do it. So, the concept of giving a charity cheque is not accepted to many.
In my village, we have a collective fund that I pay to monthly. The fund is used to serve dinner to all 365 days a year. We have about 300 people daily for dinner. Like a soup kitchen in the US.