In a Wall Street Journal opinion column, the leaders of two of the nation’s largest minority organizations write that business philanthropy can play a “make or break” role in meeting public needs during the economic crisis.

National Urban League head Marc Morial and Janet Murguia, chief executive of the National Council of La Raza, recall the surge in giving by individuals and companies during the Great Depression and cite recent campaigns by Avon, Comcast, and UPS in urging businesses to help fill the gap left by squeezed government budgets and nonprofit groups facing fiscal struggles.