(MONEY Magazine) – From the Trevi Fountain in Rome (above) to Cinderella's Moat at Disney World, well-wishers toss more than $1 million a year into fountains. Where does the money go? Often, to charity. At Trevi, where feeding the fountain is said to guarantee a return trip to Rome, a portion goes to the Italian Red Cross (the rest goes to the city). Disney donates more than $60,000 a year to organizations ranging from the Coalition for the Homeless to Give Kids the World. The dark side of this fairy tale? Pools have to be drained, coins have to be washed. And since most of us toss low-denomination coins, someone needs to lug away a lot of heavy pails.

--JOAN CAPLIN