This week I’ve dedicated the blog to the topic of financial literacy as we count down the days to the release of LifeBound’s newest addition, Dollars and Sense: How to Be Smart About Money. We covered how finances affect lives, education, math skills, and the future. We also spoke a lot about personal money management in terms of having money. But, another side to managing your personal finances is knowing when it is time to donate to people who aren’t as fortunate as you or who you think deserve a helping hand.
According to the Forbes article “World’s Most Generous People,” billionaire Warren Buffet didn’t have any record of giving until a few years ago after the death of his wife and inspiration from his friend Bill Gates. In 2009, Forbes created a list of living billionaires who have given away $1 billion or more. There were 11 billionaires out of 793 who made it on the list. Gates is at the top of the list having given away more than $28 billion in his lifetime. Of the 11 billion-dollar donors, all but one are self-made.
Most of us don’t (and won’t) have the finances to give donations the size of these givers, but a donation doesn’t have to be big to make a difference. What are you inspired by? What do you think is important? Who do you want to help? Find a cause to which you can donate your time, money, or things you don’t need anymore. Some easy and inexpensive ways to donate to those in need include:
- Donate gently used clothes to second-hand stores.
- Organize a food drive or donate to one.
- Instead of giving gifts for holidays and other gift-giving occasions, give a donation to a company like Heifer International in honor of your loved one.
- Volunteer for a cause.
What do you do to make a difference? It only takes a little. Encourage generosity no matter the size.
References:
“World’s Most Generous People” http://blogs.forbes.com/billions/2010/06/16/worlds-most-generous-people/
“Billion-Dollar Donors” http://www.forbes.com/2009/08/24/billion-dollar-donors-gates-business-billionaire-philanthropy.html
