By: Grace Berry, BBA ’16
Philanthropy. I had heard this word tossed around as I grew up in a community that valued volunteering and giving time to help others, but I never gave it much thought other than knowing I was helping people who had less than me. In their book Understanding Philanthrop, Robert Payton and Michael Moody make an accurate statement when they say, “There are few things that affect as many aspects of our lives as philanthropy, and yet there are few that are less understood.” This is true of me – though philanthropy has been present throughout my life, through taking the philanthropy class I have already been challenged to think critically about what it means to “do good” for the public.
Earlier this week our class read through excerpts from different organizations’ mission statements. We focused on certain phrases that stood out to us in order to begin laying the foundation for our own foundational purpose. Among others, the commitment to “improve lives through a lasting impact” resonated with me. As I contemplate the purpose of philanthropy, I see more clearly that one of the goals should be to empower the community. What does having a “lasting impact” look like? Gunderman touched on this subject saying that instead of redistributing wealth, we should strive instead to create wealth. Redistributing gives the idea that there is a finite amount of resources. We can give our money, skills, and time to a local charity, but at the end of the day, what did we accomplish? Lao-Tse said, “Give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. Teach him to fish, and you feed him for a life-time.” Yes, we might have provided a meal for people struggling to find the means to feed themselves, but could we do more? Could we, perhaps, find a way to help people more than temporary sustenance?
Last summer I visited Casa Del Aguila, an orphanage located on the outskirts of the Andes near Cusco, Peru. In addition to providing food and shelter to orphaned children, CDA educates them, and gives them first hand experience with farming, as well as teaches them other crucial skills. CDA is equipping the children. When they become old enough to live on their own, they will do more than just survive. They will thrive. What CDA is doing will have a lasting impact on them.
After being exposed to this organization, I started to look at non-profits with a different perspective. When I volunteer or donate money, I want to know how those resources will be used. Through the philanthropy course, I look forward to continuing to broaden my perspective of philanthropy, learning about organizations in Waco, and how they are seeking to “expand the pie,” creating wealth with the resources they have – how they are striving to have a lasting impact on people in the community.
Grace is a senior pre-med Business Fellow, with minors in German and Biochemistry. She grew up in San Antonio, TX, and calls Vail, CO her second home, where she and her family of nine love biking, hiking, skiing and snowboarding. Other interests include traveling, music, and coffee.