I agree that the spirit of philanthropy is needed and that some of today’s charity is given for other reasons, as you describe. But the spirit of philanthropy that you describe is alive and well in thousands of people. In most towns, there are parks that some individual or group painstakingly fashioned to joyously give some area for health, play and joy. Volunteers in untold numbers give of their time and energy, not by debt or obligation, but to uplift and encourage. I’ve made many decisions in my own life from that spirit, and met others who embody it more than I do. I have neighbors who love to build physically - shop projects, so to speak - and share their fruits for the fun of it. Our media showcase other things and those other things exist too, but the spirit of philanthropy is alive in many forms.
Who is this hip, tik-tok-trend aware writer!?
"True philanthropy requires an investment of goodwill in your fellow man."
This is so good, it may one day be falsely attributed to Einstein and circulated like a mid-aughts meme.
Ha, thanks! As Einstein also said, "Plagiarism is the sincerest form of flattery.”
What a beautiful essay. Thank you, Ryan!
Thanks, Andrew!
I agree that the spirit of philanthropy is needed and that some of today’s charity is given for other reasons, as you describe. But the spirit of philanthropy that you describe is alive and well in thousands of people. In most towns, there are parks that some individual or group painstakingly fashioned to joyously give some area for health, play and joy. Volunteers in untold numbers give of their time and energy, not by debt or obligation, but to uplift and encourage. I’ve made many decisions in my own life from that spirit, and met others who embody it more than I do. I have neighbors who love to build physically - shop projects, so to speak - and share their fruits for the fun of it. Our media showcase other things and those other things exist too, but the spirit of philanthropy is alive in many forms.