September 2015 – Charity Matters

What Matters? September 30, 2015

Addicted to philanthropy?

As you all know, I have been doing more than my share of soul-searching these past few months. A second son off to college, an almost empty nest, the approach of that “big birthday,” a move and a host of other life adventures are just a few of the things that have triggered this reflection.

One of the things I have been really looking at is how I spend my time. Is my time a true reflection of what is important to me? The answer is a bit of a mixed bag and has me wondering if I am addicted to philanthropy? Serving others is a rush, an incredible feeling of knowing that you did something to make someone else’s life better but somewhere along the line there needs to be a balance….or so I am told.

I have interviewed and met so many incredible people through Charity Matters and believe it or not, I am not the only one with this “service addiction.” No, I am not saying that it is somehow ok because I have company, but what I do find fascinating is how many of us are out there. People who just can’t get enough of giving their time to causes (often many) that they are passionate about.

Recent studies by Northwestern University Medical School neurologist, Jordan Graftman have shown that the brain’s frontal lobe lights up in MRI’s when people give and the brain’s pleasure and reward circuits rev into high gear as well, releasing dopamine to the brain. So there is and physiological and chemical reaction that provides the same great feelings that food, sugar, sex and some drugs provide.

Doing anything to an extreme is never a good idea, even philanthropy. As I ponder, how to give my time and energy to what and who is most important in my life. I am questioning where I spend this precious gift and how it is best used. Being an addict is never good but I suppose if I had to pick a vice, it sure could be worse.

Charity Matters.

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Charity Matters Inspiration September 28, 2015

Dreaming Big

I was raised by parents who told me I could do or be anything and somewhere along the line I began to believe them. “No” has never been a word in my vocabulary, for better or for worse. Did I mention that being stubborn is also part of the equation? The result of this is being a bit of big dreamer.

Over a decade ago, a friend reached out and asked a group of us girls for help. He was the one of two chaplains at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. He shared his vision for help, support, families having chaplains of all faiths before surgeries, end of life, celebrations and simply someone trained to listen and provide faith and hope. It was a tall order for a group of women who had never started a non-profit before but a perfect big dream.

Within a year of the launch of The Spiritual Care Guild we had chaplains 24 hours a day 7 days a week. But big dreamers don’t stop at that, they keep going because once one dream is achieved, its time to make the dream bigger. Each year the Spiritual Care Department grew as did its integral role in the hospital, with staff and patient families.

Like all good dreams, they can’t come to an end. Then five years ago, the dream expanded to having a chapel that would accommodate people of all faiths, families, patients, staff and give them a place to pray, to think, to hope and to dream. This was the biggest dream of all, especially in a hospital where real estate is reserved for medicine and all that goes with providing excellent health care to tiny patients.

However, last week that dream became a reality. I stood in the physical space, now a construction site, that will become the new Interfaith Center at CHLA. It was such an amazing moment to see what happens when people come together with a common goal, a big dream and a huge team effort. Dreams do come true and the bigger the dream the better!

Charity Matters.

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Charity Matters Inspiration September 23, 2015

One important non-profit leader: Pope Francis

This week marks an important visit as Pope Francis heads to the United States. While most of us see Pope Francis as the leader of the Catholic Church and some as a symbol of hope, we often forget that he is also the head of one of the largest social-service organizations and non-profits in the world. Because of that Francis for many is a symbol of charity.

The Pope is not only an advocate for the poor and the suffering but also the leader of an organization with over 68 million members in America alone, and the largest religious denomination in the United States. The Catholic Church supports and runs schools, hospitals, and hundreds of Catholic Colleges to name a few.

Last year Catholic Charities USA, which works to reduce poverty in the U.S., ranked number 7 on the Philanthropy top 400, raising more than most of the non-profits in the United States. Many are attributing the spike in giving to the enthusiasm about Pope Francis. His message of love, compassion and charity can often be found on his twitter feed. Last January 24th he said, “Practicing charity is the best way to evangelize.”

This week the United States welcomes Pope Francis and his message of hope to all.

Charity Matters.

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Charity Matters Inspiration September 17, 2015

All you need is love….

“I live in a small town where things rarely change.” This is the opening line from Steve Martin’s movie, Father of the Bride that references the tiny suburb I live in outside of LA. However, today this statement isn’t as true as it once was, things they are a changing.

Our little town is infamous for having great people hail from it who changed our world. Henry Huntington, one of the first railroad barons and General George Patton, to name a few. One of the most recent, is someone you have never heard of, but in her short life she created enormous change, her name was Sophia Tam.

Sophia was a bright light who was inspired by her grandfather at the early age of 10 to help the children of Burma, who were fleeing war, poverty and enormous challenges. Sophia’s teacher Erin, learned about these children and traveled to Burma or modern-day Myanmar to see first hand. Almost immediately, Erin and Sophia began working, fundraising, advocating and donating their summers to begin to build what would become the non-profit All You Need is Love, which supports the Good Morning School.

Sophia was diagnosed with brain cancer her junior year in high school and despite treatments she was undeterred in her commitment to these children. Three weeks before Sophia died at age 18, in August 2013, she hosted a fundraiser to keep this school open. This weekend her family will do the same once again and continue to spread her message of All you need is love charity.org.

Change only happens when people educate their hearts and their minds in tandem. Sophia Tam was and will continue to be a change-maker who has left her imprint on our tiny town and the world with her love, light and compassion for others.

Charity Matters.

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Charity Matters Inspiration September 15, 2015

A Gift from the Sea

As I mentioned last week, the need to run, to escape and to take a breathe….I found myself heading towards the ocean with a gloomy mind on a brilliant sunny day. Salt, sea and sand have been a life long source of peace, happiness and comfort. I realized quickly that I wasn’t running but rather running on empty. That vicious cycle of giving until there was nothing to give.

I arrived with journals, stacks of books, and “plans to relax.” However, the ocean had bigger plans. The sound of surf that lulls you to nap, the warm water that calls you in and the miles of sand that beg to be walked upon and the pile of projects quickly became a distant thought.

One book that I brought along with me was Anne Morrow Lindenberg’s, A Gift From The Sea. As I opened the first chapter these words told me all I needed to know,”One becomes, in fact, like the element on which one lies, flattened by the sea; bare, open, empty as the beach, erased by today’s tides and of all yesterday’s scribblings.”

I came to the sea for peace, solitude and renewal but what the sea gave me was much more. It gave me the moment to look inward for strength, to find my core and to know that giving must come with purpose. Anne Lindenberg’s words were my thoughts, “Only when one is connected to ones own core is one connected to others. For me, the core, the inner spring, can be best refound through solitude.”

As I leave the beach on a gloomy cloudy day it is with a sunny attitude for all that lies ahead, for the gratitude of friends, family and the life I am blessed to have and with a renewed focus on what really matters.

Charity Matters.

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Charity Matters Inspiration September 11, 2015

Find Your Sanctuary

On the heels of the “mid-life crisis” post, a girlfriend sent this to me. It spoke to me beyond words and was created for a new ad campaign in Great Britain called Find Your Sanctuary.

Next week, I have decided to go in search of my sanctuary for a few days. A time to relax, breathe, reflect, write and simply be.

Charity Matters.

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Uncategorized September 9, 2015

Is it a mid-life crisis?

I’ve always heard about those infamous fathers who went out for a newspaper and never came back. I used to think, who does that? Lately, with responsibility after responsibility, task after task, commitment after commitment…I’m embarrassed to admit that I almost get it…almost. Some days the load is overwhelming.

While running away certainly isn’t a solution, looking at what causes this feeling amongst many people in the middle of their lives is. What is it that happens in the middle of our lives that makes us feel that way? I live the life I have always dreamed of then some. Yet, there are days that going out for a newspaper doesn’t sound like a bad idea….just saying. Do we take on too much? Are moving at too fast a pace to enjoy the journey? Are we giving until we have nothing left or are we still searching for more?

As my nest is almost empty, and I see part two of my life begin to unfold ahead of me, these are the questions I find myself pondering and I don’t think I’m alone…..just the only one crazy enough to put them in ink. Until I find the answers, I will be thankful for all I have, the blessings in my life and gratitude that I don’t read the paper.

Charity Matters.

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Charity Matters Quotes September 7, 2015

Happy Labor Day!

“A hundred times every day I remind myself that my inner and outer life depend on the labors of other men, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the same measure as I have received and am still receiving.”

Albert Einstein

As we celebrate Labor Day today, let us remember all of those who went before us to create this great nation with their hard work. It is that work ethic that has defined our country. Today we celebrate them and those that continue to toil everyday to make this nation great.

Happy Labor Day everyone!

Charity Matters.

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Cancer September 4, 2015

A fight song

The other day I went to the dentist for my annual appointment. My dental hygienist, who has become my friend over the past decade of having my mouth held captive, did not look like her usual perky self. I only see her twice a year but she somehow feels like a dear friend every time we visit. I asked her about her children who are the same age as mine and as the tears began to flow, she shared that her college age son was just diagnosed with cancer.

I came home devastated and in shock at how quickly lives are altered by the words, “You have cancer.” As I scrolled through Facebook as a distraction, I came across this and felt compelled to share.

Having spent over a decade at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, supporting families in crisis, this spoke to me on so many levels. Coincidentally, September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Life can change on a dime, one never knows and it is the power of love, compassion and a fight song that makes it all worth the fight.

Charity Matters.

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Charity Matters Quotes September 2, 2015

September

“That old September feeling… of summer passing, vacation nearly done, obligations gathering, books and football in the air…. Another fall, another turned page: there was something of jubilee in that annual autumnal beginning, as if last year’s mistakes and failures had been wiped clean by summer.”

Wallace Stegne

The season is turning, it is a beautiful time to take a breath and a moment to reflect on all of the beauty around us. It is there, we simply have to open our eyes and find a moment to appreciate it.

Charity Matters.

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