Dollar Philanthropy

Dollar Philanthropy Celebrates Blog Action Day

October 15th has been selected as the day when bloggers all over the world put on their "Do Gooder" hats and blog for a cause.  Well-- that's not a new thing here at Dollar Philanthropy.

So, I'll keep this short...

Poverty is a bad thing.  However, each of us needs to be sure that we do not allow it to shape our judgements and definition of people who must deal with it's consequences.  Poor people are just like us.  It is just that their poverty creates the situation where they lack access to resources many of us take for granted. 

• Access to health care
• Access to food
• Access to clean water
• Access to shelter
• Access to clothing
• Access to education
• Access to advocacy

Just to name a few....

I think my many years of caring for and working with people with schizophrenia has made the issue of homelessness one that speaks to my heart.  I know first hand the undeserved suffering that people with severe and persistent mental illnesses go through. So today I challenge you to do two things

1. The next time you pass a homeless person on the street, look at them with caring and compassion.  Notice the dirty clothes, take in the smell of a person who does not have access to a shower, look at their thin, gaunt face, and if they happen to be talking nonsense or appear mentally ill, take a moment to recognize and understand that you are just seeing the results of poverty.  For if this homeless person had access to shelter, food, clothing, and adequate healthcare, he or she would be more able to find a compassionate, helping community to get their life back in order.
2. Consider donating to a cause that helps people get their lives back.  As usual I have a couple of suggestions:

Send Your Dollar Today!

MUST Ministries is an organization that has a wide array of services that meets people where they are and also provides assistance to keep people from becoming homeless.  They operate a shelter, food kitchen, food pantry, health clinic, transitional housing, clothing closet, prevocational training, and emergency monetary assistance. 

Click here to Donate Online
Click here for Donate by Mail

Holy Comforter is a parish in Atlanta where about 60% of their congregation lives with mental illness.  Many of the congregants live in group homes or other supported living situations. In response to a dramatic decrease in state funding of services for this population, Holy Comforter offers a day program 2 days a week where 80 to 125 people with mental illnesses can participate in a variety of activities including painting, ceramics, gardening, weaving and woodworking.  

Holy Comforter's staff and volunteers provide a compassionate and caring hand to help people get their lives back.

You can mail donations to: 

Rev. Mike Tanner
Holy Comforter
737 Woodlawn Avenue
Atlanta, GA 30316

Workplace Philanthropy: Meal Baskets for Families In Need

The Holiday season is rapidly approaching.  This is the time I usually think about single parent families and people having a hard time making ends meet.  Then I just want to slap myself. 

So while I post this workplace philanthropy idea now, I would encourage all to be better than me and to think about these families throughout the year, not just at holiday time.  Afterall, there are people everyday that go to bed hungry-- not just at holiday time.

A successful Meal Basket event can be divided into three stages.

Stage 1:  Locating and gaining information about needy families in your area.
Teaming up with local service organizations that assist families in need is the best way of locating and understanding the needs of certain families in your area.  In many cases the service organizations will want to maintain the confidentiality of the families they serve.  As such, you can deliver your baskets to the organization and they will be responsible for making sure the family gets the items.  Important questions to ask the service organization include:

1. How many people are in the family?
2. What are the ages of the people in the family?
3. Are there any allergies of which you need to be aware?
4. Does the family have an operational kitchen in which to prepare a meal? (some people have difficulty paying for utilities or may be living out of a shelter or travel trailer)

Stage 2:  Gathering up the items for the meal basket
Based on the information learned about the families/people for whom you will collect items, figure out a menu that they will enjoy.  I've prepared some menu ideas and ingredients lists if you need help (see end of post for downloadable document). Depending on your family you may want to gather items to provide multiple modest meals rather than one huge one. 

Once the menus have been determined, compose a list of items you want people to bring in and distribute the list.  The perishable items on the menu provide people an opportunity to donate money toward grocery store gift cards.  The combination of needs really eliminates any excuse for people not to participate. 

Stage 3:  Assembling the baskets/boxes and delivery

Once the items are gathered, the baskets/boxes will need to be assembled to make sure that each box has the appropriate items for the menu you've selected.  Depending on the size of the families you are preparing for, the size of the boxes will differ.

Depending on the organization with whom you are working, you can also put in an encouraging message or card.

Download workplace_phil. menu ideas.pdf

Also consider buying soups and chili mixes from one of the DP highlighted nonprofits:  Women's Bean Project  It would be double good for the money... you purchase what you need and a good cause gets income to help them change women's lives in Denver.

Thanks to Wordridden for photo

Time, Talent and Treasure: Claiming Abundance in Your Life

I used to describe myself as a helper.  I do like helping and I can be really good at it.  There is really nothing better than seeing something or someone succeed.  In fact, I think my attraction to helping is because it is a task oriented action where one has tangible proof that one has done good.

Now... now... lots of things have changed in my life over the last year an a half.  Subsequently, I think how I describe myself has also changed a bit.  Yes, I continue to like helping, but today I would more describe myself as a thankful person.  I say this because I find my impetus for action is not really so much because I can see progress, but more because I feel I am so fortunate and blessed.

Like most everyone else in these economic times, I am concerned about the days ahead of us.  If I am not careful, I can let my worries about our family's tight budget get to me.  However, it is essential that we remember that we all are much more than just our incomes and expenditures.

My friend, Courtney, reminds me that we all have time, talent and treasures and they all are equally important in the whole scheme of things.  Additionally, the amount of these given is of no real consequence. 

The act of giving, in and of itself, is sufficient and transforming.

The act of giving of your time, talent or treasure requires one to examine what they have and determine where one has been blessed.  By giving away what you have, you claim areas of abundance in your life.  That's right.... abundance.  That lesson has transformed me--- no longer just a helper, now I recognize areas of abundance and am exceedingly thankful for them.

That's not to say that the act of giving is not scary.  That is simply not the case.  I always battle the idea that I am a fool for helping or giving.  What happens if it doesn't make a difference?  What happens if someone takes advantage of my willingness to give?  What if that homeless person takes that $5 I gave him and buys a bottle of MadDog 20/20 instead of buying some food?

The great thing about giving of your time, talent or treasure is that as long as it is freely given, without agenda or expectations, it is always a win.  After you give it away, how it is used reflects solely on the receiver. 

With that said, what areas of life do you feel blessed or fortunate?  Do you have a talent or a gift?  Do you get along well with kids, the elderly or animals?  Do you have a few extra hours?  Do you have a few extra dollars? 

Remember, it is not the amount that matters.  It is the fact you act.

Where do you have abundance and how will you share it?

Thanks to Suchitra Prints for the photo.

Do you know someone who makes a HUGE difference?

I know that over the years, DP has accumulated a number of readers who are actively engaged in nonprofit work.  So this is for you...

Well, the Charles Bronfman Prize is looking for a few good Humanitarians. 

The Charles Bronfman Prize is an humanitarian award of $100,000. It celebrates the vision and talent of an individual or team 50 years of age or under, whose humanitarian work has contributed significantly to the betterment of the world. Its goal is to bring public recognition to young, dynamic individuals whose Jewish values infuse their humanitarian accomplishments, provide inspiration to the next generations.

Over the last few years, Bronfman Prize judges have considered hundreds of qualified nominations from around the globe -- young women and men whose diverse range of humanitarian efforts includes ground-breaking applications of medicine and science, education, human rights, conflict resolution, community development and compassionate care.

       

What They Are Looking for:

                     

• Today’s heroes who serve as an inspiration for the next generations.
• Next generation leaders who have a vision for change that will better the world in a meaningful way;
• Nominees who have created a mechanism for acting on their vision in ways that deliver measurable results; and,
• Nominees who exhibit innovation, leadership and impact in their chosen field.
• Individuals or teams, not organizations. We want to hear about the individuals who created the visions on which the organization is based.
• Nominees who are 50 years of age or under by December of the year of nomination

So if you know someone who is a good candidate for the Bronfman Prize, please visit the website for nomination information and forms.

Praise for Small to Medium-Sized Nonprofits: Worth a Read

Thanks to Nonprofit Online News for introducing me to Don Griesmann.  I've long been a fan on small to mid-size nonprofits.  Mostly because they are the troops on the ground and that they are extremely nimble and able to efficiently and quickly meet the needs of those in their communities.

Read Don's take on it...  In Praise of Small to Mid-Size Non-profits - On the Side Streets of America