Philanthropy … Philanthropist

Defined on google as:

“altruistic concern for human welfare and advancement, usually manifested by donations of money, property, or work to needy persons, by endowment of institutions of learning and hospitals, and by generosity to other socially useful purposes.”

Recently someone referred to me as a philanthropist and I was a little embarrassed by that description.

I had considered a philanthropist to be a title only bestowed on kind hearted wealthy folk.

Then I started to look at it differently.  What about volunteers doing acts of kindness that don’t get reported, go unnoticed by most, or worse still, questioned by others?   Why do we refer to them as volunteers and not philanthropists?   Then the penny dropped.    Philanthropy is not just for the well-healed.    It’s about the act, not necessarily the bank balance.    Yes there are wealthy philanthropists who donate their money because they may not have time, but equally there are those philanthropists who may not have the money but have the time.   They are equal, are they not?

My week has been filled with meeting  and communicating with philanthropists from all walks of life – many of whom are no longer in paid employment for whatever reason.   Their financial bank balance may not be high, but their moral bank balance certainly is, choosing to use their time and skills in philanthropy.

Thanks to those who have been on board this week.

I am inspired by my fellow philanthropists.

Have a great weekend.

Mi lukim yu

Belinda