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Giving is value that unties us
By Peter Espenshade
December 27, 2008
Rutland Herald
As someone who works in the field of
philanthropy, I am asked every day about how charitable giving
is impacted by our current economic recession. It always
heartens me to be able to say that, over the past 30 years,
philanthropy has not declined during economic recessions. It has
held steady or even increased — this represents the hope and
spirit of philanthropy. We realize that our communities and
those in need suffer more during an economic downturn and our
response as community members is to give more.
The holiday season holds different meanings for different
faiths, and giving is one of the only common virtues that unify
these beliefs. Charitable giving is one of the obligations of a
full life according to the Koran. Charity is one of the six
requisites of Buddhist discipline. Judaism has a long history of
reinforcing charity; in fact the Hebrew word for righteousness
is the same as the Hebrew word for charity. Humanists view
charity as an essential virtue. Christians view Christ's very
life and teachings as a gift and sacrifice. And there are
countless other examples.
Increasingly, the global community is seeking ways for diverse
faiths to coexist in tolerance. I think that charitable giving
does much more than allow us to coexist. It allows us to express
our faith in common ways — it is the best expression of the
human soul. During the holiday season, we are constantly
reminded of how wonderful it feels to give.
The essayist Stephen Fry writes that the three most beautiful
words in the English language are not "I love you," but "please
help me." They are words of hope that show that we can call on
each other to care for each other.
Many Vermonters will be cold or hungry or living on the edge
this winter. The economic crisis is already impacting people
from all walks of life. Low- and middle-income Vermont families
are finding it impossible to keep up with the growing costs of
basic needs, such as food, heat, shelter, and transportation. At
the end of November, over 40,000 households had applied for fuel
assistance, an increase of 25 percent from 2007. Food shelves
are also struggling to meet the rising demand in their
communities. Some have had a 25 percent increase in families
visiting this year compared to last year, and the cost of food
has risen 20 percent.
I hope that we will all consider giving a little more this year
— whether to a favorite charity or of your time. Our current
economic downturn is an opportunity for us to act on the true
spirit of caring that unites us all.
PETER ESPENSHADE
(Vice President for community philanthropy
Vermont Community Foundation)
Middlebury
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