November 30, 2023 general

I am extremely thankful for the great many blessings I have, but I sure do wish I was extremely rich…and not because I crave jewelry, a Birkin bag, Jimmy Choo shoes, a beach house, a fancy car (even one just a little newer than my 19-year-old-one), or anything like that. I’d like to be rich simply so I could donate with abandon to my favorite causes.

I give now as much as I can afford. Giving feels so good I was pretty sure it has to be good for our health. So I checked. It is! Even the Cleveland Clinic agrees and it doesn’t have to be money.  Check this article on the health benefits of giving, notes that MRI imaging shows that giving stimulates the same pleasure centers in the brain as does food, drugs and sex.(!!!) That is great physiological evidence, but there is more:

1. Greater self-esteem and satisfaction with life.
2. Lower risk of depression.
3. Better physical health. (even heart health)
4. A longer life. (Volunteering is easier on the budget and is effective.)

Cautionary Note: I was very disappointed in the past to learn that a famous breast cancer charity used an unacceptably high proportion of donations for overhead, huge salaries, marketing, etc. instead of the supposed mission of “awareness”. (I think the mission should include more public education about ways to prevent breast cancer). So, I now use Charity Navigator (CN) to make sure my donation is effective. CN rates charities with stars (up to 4) and lists what % of income goes directly to the stated mission.

Ways to make your donation better. One effective tactic is to check with your employer to see if it has a program to match employee donations. Also, apparently, donations made on Tuesdays may go further and there is an official annual “Giving Tuesday” right after Thanksgiving. It may just be a as a reminder, but I think sometimes there are incentives.

Like I imagine you do, I always want to help folks that I see in the news who have experienced some terrible loss.

The list below is of organized charities that speak to me personally (in alpha order and note, the bold headings are links.)                                                                                                        

ASPCA – The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals^® has been protecting and rescuing animals since 1866. CN rates it a 4-star 99%.

Dallas Life Foundation (Recovery Center for the Homeless) – Sadly, so many efforts to help the homeless result in scant long term results because they address only the symptom not the cause. This organization has a track record of returning 90% of its homeless persons to normal life where they have dignity and can earn their own money for housing. The organization’s success is due to finding out what the person needs (e.g. drug treatment, healthcare, counseling, job training, etc.) and providing it. Some staff members are former clients. Although located in Dallas, they are sharing their methods nationwide. The CN rating is 4-star 100%.

Humane Society – protects pets, farm animals, marine animals. and wildlife around the world. (I about lose my mind when I see news reports of something like elephants being killed for their tusks.) CN rates this charity as 4-star 97%

International fellowship of Christians and Jews – They are currently providing food boxes to starving elderly holocaust survivors in Israel. (If you somehow think Israel is evil, that may indicate that you have not done your homework on the Palestinian Hamas terrorists. I can’t help you here with that. Just move on down the list) CN rates this charity as 4-star 97%

Mercy Ships – Around the world in places without access to medical care, there are children, teens and adults suffering and dying from treatable causes. Without help, one child in eight will die before age 5. CN rates it as 4-star 100%

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital  – The mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. CN Rates this charity as 4-star 100%, but I am most impressed that families do NOT receive bills for the child’s treatment, travel, housing, or food. (Surely the family has already had a lot of expense and is stressed to the max.)

Tunnel to Towers Foundation – They honor and support our military and first responders who continue to make the supreme sacrifice of life and limb for our country. Among the benefits are handicap accessible homes and mortgage free homes for surviving families. Recently the organization has been constructing residential buildings in various cities to provide housing for homeless veterans. Today, the CN search did not have a current rating, but according to the charity’s financial disclosures, apparently it usually rates 95% to 100%.

World Vision International – it is a global Christian humanitarian organization that works to empower people out of poverty. I like the idea of giving poor folks in a third world country the means to buy or raise food instead of just giving them food (the “give a fish / teach to fish” principle). WV also has programs for US poor children (e.g. giving school supplies and warm coats). It is fun to look through their online gift catalog and I want to click on all of them. (By the way, I may no longer be the favorite aunt after this Christmas. My niece and 2 nephews want for nothing and have plenty of toys. So, this year I’m going to let them know they gave a poor kid a goat and two chickens or some such.)

Well, I know of no wealthy old uncles on the horizon, so I’ll just plug along as best I can.

Of course, donations can be other than money. Causes may appreciate your stocks, used car or time and talents. Choose what you like and reap the health benefits of generosity.