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Are You a Philanthropist?
Throughout history, many great men and women have engaged in philanthropy, giving of their time, their money, their talent, and their selves to impact mankind. A philanthropist is, of course, a lover of mankind - someone who purely desires to serve the human race. |
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Throughout history, many great men and women have engaged in philanthropy, giving of their time, their money, their talent, and their selves to impact mankind. A philanthropist is, of course, a lover of mankind - someone who purely desires to serve the human race. Philanthropists may express this love and compassion by donating funds to support charitable causes or by investing their time in noble efforts, such as volunteering at a library or performing medical work on street children in Cambodia.
Of course, the expression of a philanthropist’s love of mankind varies greatly, and is not always favorably received. The work of John Adams wife, Abigail Adams, to further the cause of feminism and sexual equity, was condemned by many of the forerunning leaders of her time. Other liberal or activist philanthropists such as George Soros, a key figure in fighting for human rights in Poland and former Czechoslovakia, and Elizabeth Gilmore who donated over $800,000 to the union of concerned scientists, met with similar opposition or skepticism.
Philanthropists may devote themselves to many different causes. Those for furthering education may support particular schools, establish grants or scholarships for students, or invest in curriculum. Others may focus on a more global perspective, offering money to nations struggling with poverty, disease, lack of education, or political unrest. There is a proliferation of charity organizations offering venues for donation, and the educated philanthropist may simply examine all these options and evaluate which ones will prove to be the best use of their invested money. The controversy, however, occurs when a philanthropist supports what may appear to be a politically one-sided goal, such as abortion, military, gay/racial/gender rights, or other topics of differing opinions. While supporting US troops may seem an admirable and worthy cause to one donator, another may much prefer investing in a peace activist organization that the first donor opposes.
In large philanthropic foundations or establishments, especially where the donor may be deceased or simply inactive, the issue of donor intent arises. This is essentially the question of what exactly the donor meant the money to be used for, and establishing this intent is important to prevent friends, family members, or others from spending the funds on other causes.
Philanthropists have many reasons for choosing to make their donations towards the betterment of mankind. Occasionally, the donor simply wishes to further events or activities that they themselves are interested in; a fan of the music or theatre would be likely to support a local symphony or stage. A donor may also be moved by evidence of a need, such as in countries where many children starve to death or die of treatable disease. Also, there are philanthropists who are simply driven to give, to share the wealth of time, money, or knowledge that they themselves possess.
There are many philanthropists who have powerfully impacted the development of human society, each in their own way. Andrew Carnegie of Carnegie Hall donated 190 million Euros to various swimming pools, libraries, and universities across America and Scotland, making him one of the greatest philanthropists of all time. John Rockefeller, the great oil pioneer, gave away half his 270 million dollars to similar causes. Bill Gates, the infamous symbol of computer-generation wealth in America, gave away more than five billion dollars. Throughout history, these individuals and their generosity have given thousands of people opportunity and enrichment.
So how can you, too, be a philanthropist? How can individuals today donate their time and money towards bettering life for humankind? There are a hundred different answers to these questions, and each perhaps as valid as the next. Corporations like World Vision (www.worldvision.org) allow convenience of donation, offering the donor a catalog of charitable choices including a goat for a family, mango trees for a village, or books for a schoolhouse. Others, such as Compassion and Christian Children’s Fund, allow a donor to sponsor a child on a monthly or yearly basis. If you are interested in donating to an unfamiliar organization, it may be best to use an unbiased evaluator such as www.charitynavigator.org to compare statistics, and find out exactly where your money is going.
In addition to financial needs, there are many opportunities for willing philanthropists to donate their time towards the cause of their choice. Libraries are continually seeking volunteers, for everything from cataloguing to sessions of reading out loud. Food banks and other local charities often need help with donations, organization, and distribution. Or, a creative philanthropist may want to set their hand to creating a new organization – projects like angel child and many others were the work of individuals stepping out with a vision. These acts of compassion leave the donor with a sense of fulfillment, self-worth, and empowerment; and they leave a legacy that may continue to blossom and grow with philanthropy, the love for mankind.
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