Giving

I’m writing this on the eve of my 40th birthday, which I suppose is a bit of a milestone. For the past couple of weeks, I’ve been distracted and didn’t really plan to do much for my birthday, but I was reminded that in previous years I was able to raise awareness of concerns and even money for key issues that I care about.

It occurred to me that I could use this opportunity to highlight the importance of giving. I believe that by giving, we receive much more in return. When we give, the recipient of our gesture obviously gets something tangible, but what about the giver? I believe that the giver also receives. Givers receive the satisfaction of knowing they were able to do something positive and help someone or something that they care about. It’s a win-win.

I’m grateful that I’m in a position to give today, so in the spirit of leading by example, I decided to donate $40 to 10 organizations that I support and believe in. If you feel inspired to donate to one of these, it would be awesome, but if not, that’s ok, too.

Here are the organizations that I donated $40 to today along with a brief mission statement for context around what they do:

Atlanta Community Food Bank – Our mission is to fight hunger by engaging, educating and empowering our community.

Ian Somerhalder Foundation – The IS Foundation aims to empower, educate and collaborate with people and projects to positively impact the planet and its creatures.

Citizens Climate Lobby – The purposes of Citizens Climate Lobby are to 1) create the political will for a stable climate and 2) to empower individuals to have breakthroughs in exercising their personal and political power.

Sierra Club (Georgia Chapter) – To explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of the earth; To practice and promote the responsible use of the earth’s ecosystems and resources; To educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment; and to use all lawful means to carry out these objectives.

National Resources Defense Council – To safeguard the Earth: its people, its plants and animals and the natural systems on which all life depends.

charity: water – Our mission is to bring clean and safe drinking water to every person in the world.

Rocky Mountain Institute – RMI’s vision is a world thriving, verdant, and secure, for all, for ever. Our mission is to drive the efficient and restorative use of resources.

Environmental Defense Fund – Our mission is to preserve the natural systems on which all life depends. Guided by science and economics, we find practical and lasting solutions to the most serious environmental problems.

Trees Atlanta – Trees Atlanta is a nationally recognized citizens group that protects and improves Atlanta’s urban forest by planting, conserving and educating.

Human Rights Campaign – The HRC is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

Gulf Restoration Network – The Gulf Restoration Network is committed to uniting and empowering people to protect and restore the natural resources of the Gulf Region.

These are just a few of the organizations that I support and trust. There are many others that deserve support. Perhaps this post will inspire others to step up and contribute.

If you feel inspired to make a contribution today, please leave a comment with who you supported and why you were motivated to act. Thank you!

 

Photo: https://nutritionize.net