"When people see a need and they put their skills to use-that's volunteerism".

Lynn Hawkins

Dear Friend,

Philanthropy is hitting the airwaves big time.  NBC has just given the go ahead to Tom Fontana to shoot a 13 episode series called "The Philanthropist".  This follows in the footsteps of ABC's Oprah's "The Big Give" and "Extreme Home Make Over". The world of philanthropy in America has come a long way from "barn raising" in colonial times to fund raising in our time. But the stories of the joys of giving remain the same. The giver always gets more than the receiver. If you don't believe that trying watching "Extreme Makeover". It always brings tears to my eyes and joy to my heart.  
New York Post, March 25, 2008, p. 14
 
Sincerely,
Douglas M. Lawson, Ph.D.

_____________________________________


Did you know?

 
PROTESTS TO A CORPORATE DONATION
Eighty individuals and fifteen organizations including the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood and Parents for Ethical Marketing are protesting the decision of the Columbus Children's Hospital to accept a $10 million gift from a local retailer, Abercrombie & Fitch to name a new emergency department and trauma center. The protestors contend the naming of the new center sends a "grievously wrong message" because of the provocative advertising of Abercrombie & Fitch. This controversy provokes us all to take a closer look at who is giving and why. Abercrombie & Fitch contends their gift was a significant philanthropic gift. The hospital states clearly that the naming of the center was a pure act of recognition and not the sale of rights to a corporation.  What do you think?
New York Times, March 12, 2008, p. C5
 
MUSEUMS ARE CREATING MORE EVENT SPACE
A large revenue producer for museums is the renting of museum space for events by other non-profits as well as corporations. The American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York is being renovated and one of the key architectural concerns is how the space can be used for parties of all kinds. This is a trend for museums nationwide. It is a good way to raise badly needed funds.
New York Times, March 12, 2008, p. 42
 
THE INTERNET SPURS VOLUNTEERISM
Volunteerism among our youth is on the upswing thanks to the internet. Since 2004, 22,000 non-profit organizations have signed up to gain volunteers on the My Space teen and young adult site. Jeff Berman of My Space says "more young people are engaged in activism online and their creativity in using the internet to do good works is off the charts". Facebook has experienced the same trend in recent years. This is where our young people are taking philanthropy and we truly believe it is a good thing.
USA Today, March 13, 2008, p. 3A
 
EXECUTIVES TEACH INMATES HOW TO BE EMPLOYEES
Mark Goldsmith founded a non-profit organization, Getting Out and Staying Out, to help prison inmates in New York turn their lives around. A former Revlon executive, Mr. Goldsmith has joined with 14 other executives, both retired and currently employed, to help inmates gain skills that will keep them from resorting to crime again only to return to prison. Mr. Goldsmith's observation about his work with inmates is worth noting: "A lot of them are as smart and talented as anyone you meet in business; they just haven't had anyone to help them".
The Wall Street Journal, March 17, 2008, p. B1
 
HELPING LAW STUDENTS GOING INTO PUBLIC SERVICE
Harvard Law School has just announced it will waive tuition for third-year students who pledge to spend five years working either for non-profit organizations or the government. This savings of more than $40,000 parallels a program already in existence which forgives loans for students choosing pubic service as a career. We commend Harvard for this new program and we encourage other Law Schools to follow.
New York Times, March 18, 2008, p. A14
 
PASSING VALUES TO HEIRS THROUGH PHILANTHROPY
It is estimated by 2052 that $41 trillion will change hands from one generation to another. Many families are setting up Charitable Foundations and Charitable Remainder Trusts, among other planned giving methods, to teach their children values of both money and giving to others. The children will receive income from the trusts but the principal will go to charities. Many families are putting their children on the newly formed foundations to teach them how to give money to others. Martin Rothenberg gives his children some money for basic needs, but as he puts it so well, "giving them money that they can give away is more valuable than giving them money that they can spend".
New York Times, March 18, 2008, p. H1
 
ON BECOMING A PRE-EMPTIVE PHILANTHROPIST
What about giving when you are not asked? This is a way of becoming a philanthropist that in the long run brings to the giver the greatest amount of joy. This pre-emptive way of giving allows the giver to be pro-active in the selection of charitable causes he or she wishes to affirm either as a donor or a volunteer or both. As Paul G. Schervish observes, "By getting deeply involved in a few projects, both financially and personally, by being creative and helpful without being asked, by becoming a pre-emptive philanthropist, you can discover how writing that moral biography can be hugely satisfying, even fun".
New York Times, March 18, 2008, p. H9
 
LARGEST GIFT IN HISTORY OF WHITNEY MUSEUM
Leonard A. Lauder, the cosmetics billionaire, has given the Whitney Museum its largest gift in its 77 year history totaling $131 million. It is one of the largest gifts to a New York museum's endowment. The Whitney's director, Adam D. Weinberg says "It will be the first time our endowment will be large enough so that the Whitney can maintain its commitment to living artists and to adventurous programming".
New York Times, March 19, 2008, p. B1
 
IMMERSION EXPERIENCES - THE NEW MISSION TO THE WORLD
Traditional Christian mission experiences for students involve building a school or a water well for the poor in another country. The new mission experiences involve the students in an "immersion experience" wherein they go "to accept hospitality, show gratitude, listen and return home with bigger hearts and broader perspectives". Many non-profit groups now offer immersion experiences including Global Awareness Through Experience, International Partners in Mission, and Society for Biblical Studies. Listening and learning how others live is what it is all about.
USA Today, March 19, 2008, p. 4D
 
DINING IN THE DARK BENEFITS BLINDNESS FOUNDATION
On March 27th in Dallas, Ebby Halliday, 97 was honored at a benefit for the foundation Fighting Blindness, where all the attendees ate in pitch black and all the servers were blind. Ebby's co-honorees were T. Boone Pickens and Kern Wildenthal. Tickets for the benefit were $500 each. This is the kind of unique fundraising event that just might be duplicated elsewhere.
Dallas Morning News, March 19, 2008, p. 1D
 
BOSTON PHILANTHROPIST BAILS OUT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS
Bob Hildreth, a Boston financier, gave $200,000 to bail out 40 illegal immigrants (in New Bedford, Massachusetts) who were arrested and put into detention as they sewed vests and backpacks for U.S. soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. In the history of philanthropy, donations of bail money are rare, especially when it comes to illegal immigrants. Once cases like these are settled the bail money goes back to the donor. Mr. Hildreth says he plans to set aside these monies as a bail fund for future cases.
Wall Street Journal, March 19, 2008, p. A13
 
FOOD BANKS FEEL FINANCIAL CRUNCH
The non-profit food banks are feeling the pinch of the financial crisis that is hitting America. A perfect storm of reduced government provided surplus items and an increase in people turning to the food banks for help is causing the banks to scramble for new sources of food and revenue. The numbers are frightening - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's donations have dropped to $58 million worth of food donations in 2007 from $242 million four years ago while demand for food has increased 20%. New volunteer fundraising and food raising methods are being tried as the crisis grows. This is a challenge we all need to meet with our gifts as the solution.
Wall Street Journal, March 20, 2008, p. 1
 
STAY AT RITZ-CARLTON AND VOLUNTEER
Ritz-Carlson's new "Give Back Getaways" are a first for the world of hotels. Sue Stephensen, the "social responsibility" chief at Ritz recommended the program. A typical program for a guest costs between $50 and $100 which covers transportation costs and a donation to the charity where the volunteering takes place. The programs usually last a half-day at all 70 Ritz-Carlton locations worldwide, each of which has at least one volunteer option. What a fabulous idea. We hope other hotel chains follow the lead of the Ritz.
USA Today, March 21, 2008, p. D1
 
PHILANTHROPY MAKES RETIREMENT MEANINGFUL AND FUN
Retirement can put you in a rut asking "Is this all there is"? Or, it can become a meaningful and fun part of life. One big way to accomplish the latter is to volunteer at one of America's many non-profits. Rick Wacker, 64, after several years of trying new jobs when he was forced into a retirement buyout, has found volunteering much more rewarding. In his words, "I'd rather do this volunteer work than a part-time job". He speaks for thousands of other retirees who have found through philanthropic pursuits meaning and fun in their later years.
Wall Street Journal, March 22, 2008, p. R1
 
NO GLASS CEILING FOR WOMEN AT ENDOWMENTS AND FOUNDATIONS
Women now manage 10 of the 50 largest endowments and foundations, which is 20% overall, compared to 4% overall ten years ago. Parallel to this is the fact that 15% of corporate officers and board members in 2007 were held by women. Susan E Manske, who ran Boeing $46 billion pension fund before she became head of the $6.5 billion MacArthur Foundation, states clearly "I love investing. This married my interest with working in a culture of philanthropy". We hope more women look at this as an opportunity to utilize their skills in the world of philanthropy.
New York Times, March 22, 2008, p. B1
 
DONATE WHILE BIDDING FOR TRAVEL
BiddingForGood.com is a new web site that allows bidders to bid on trips that have been put on the auction block by various charities to raise money. 91% of proceeds up to $100,000 goes to the charities and 100% of all funds after that. Users of the website may search by category and may sort various auctions by the charity or the state. Good new idea!.
New York Times, March 23, 2008, p. TR2
 
BILLIONAIRE BRITT SHARES HOME WITH OPERA
This summer (for ten days) British billionaire, David Ross, will invite opera lovers to hear performances in a 300 seat concert hall he built on his 3,800 acre estate, 90 miles northwest of London. Now in its seventh year, 6,000 visitors have come to Ross' estate. Regarding his gift to the world of opera Ross says "I enjoy the people who go and see opera. Even if it all gets a bit much? Well it's only ten days".
Forbes, March 24, 2008, p. 162
 
THOUSANDS OF NEW COMMUNITIES BECOME GREEN
The Smart Growth Network, the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and other non-profits such as the U.S. Green Building Council, the Congress for the New Urbanism, and the Natural Resources Defense Council, have helped to produce 1,000 new eco-friendly communities throughout America. These communities are based on development principles that preserve open space, avoid sprawl, and preserve farmland, natural beauty and critical environmental areas. The new communities are dense with an emphasis on walking rather than driving. These new eco-friendly communities are worth watching. We hope more will be created.
Wall Street Journal, March 24, 2008, p. R13


___________________


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