When I was young, I thought a philanthropist was someone who lived in a massive home and had “bags of money” that he or she doled out to have a hospital wing named after him or her. I have learned, however, we can all be philanthropists since a philanthropist is simply a person who cares about others and does something to promote their welfare.
Contrary to what many believe, we do not need to be “rich” to be philanthropic. Proof that wealth is not necessary to do something for others can be found in Victor Frankl’s book Man’s Search for Meaning, in which Frankl talks about how some prisoners at Auschwitz gave away their last pieces of bread to feed those they perceived to be in greater need than themselves.
Fourteen-year-old Anne Frank wrote in her diary, “No one ever became poor by giving.” So, I often ask, why is it some people are philanthropic, and others are not? I do not know the answer. However, I do know that those who say they will share what they have when they have more, seldom do.
For some people, being caring and compassionate is natural as illustrated by the story of Gandhi when he once was boarding a train. Apparently, one of his shoes slipped off and landed on the track just as the train started to move, so he was not able to retrieve it. To the astonishment of his companions, Gandhi calmly took off his other shoe and carefully threw it back along the track, so it landed near the one that had slipped off. In response to the question why he would do that, Gandhi smiled and said, “The poor man who finds the shoe lying on the track will now have a pair he can use.”
My parents were not “rich” people. However, in their own way they were philanthropists. In 1956, when I was 10 years old, we took in a refugee who had escaped Communism in what was called the “Hungarian Uprising.” My dad took the time to find our new house-guest a job. I remember also accompanying my mum going door-to-door to raise money for both The March of Dimes (to fight polio) and for the Red Feather Campaign (the forerunner of The United Way). I was fortunate to have my parents as role models when it came to philanthropy.
My mum also had the habit of clipping out or writing down inspirational quotes she came across, a habit of hers I adopted. One of the quotes Mum gave me over 50 years ago was from Albert Schweitzer, who said, “I do not know what your destiny will be. But, one thing I do know is that the only ones among you who will truly be happy are those who have sought and found how to help others.”
Over 150 years ago, Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote that if people helped others, they also ended up helping themselves. It turns out Emerson’s conclusion has been scientifically verified. Research into the relationship between money and happiness has found that once people’s basic needs are met, greater income only marginally affects happiness. In particular, the research showed that people are happier overall and have greater self-esteem if they donate money to charity or spend it on others, rather than saving it or spending it on themselves.
We can all help others. Some will help by giving a few cans of food to the local foodbank, others by donating money, and still others will help by donating their time or sharing their wisdom by giving to others the benefit of their experience. It is important that those of us who are parents remember that our children are watching and likely will follow what we do. I believe if we want our children and grandchildren to live in a caring and compassionate world, we must be caring and compassionate ourselves.
As a former lawyer, I know the meaning of the phrase often found in contracts: “time is of the essence.” We need to have that same sense of urgency about being kind, thoughtful, compassionate and, yes, philanthropic.
While I love the thought of Mary Ann Evans (George Eliot) that it is never too late to be what we might have been – sadly, sometimes it can be too late. I believe Emerson said it best when he told us, “You can never do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon will be too late.”
No matter how you choose to personalize it, let us all be philanthropists!
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