What is philanthropy? Well, according to Wikipedia – so it must be right – it is “the desire to promote the welfare of others, expressed especially by the generous donation of money to good causes”.
The word ‘philanthropy’ conjures up an image of ultra-wealthy individuals donating substantial portions of their wealth for the benefit of individuals and society. While it’s an honourable cause, for many of us it may seem to be beyond our reach, requiring vast reserves of wealth. Should this put us off philanthropy? Not at all. Philanthropy is increasingly considered – especially among the millennial generation – as the opportunity to give time, money, knowledge, opinions and networking to a good cause. For most of us, this is perfectly achievable.
The best example of philanthropy in a Rotary context is our own global Foundation, which transforms our monetary gifts into service projects that change lives both close to home and around the world. Since it was founded more than 100 years ago, the Rotary Foundation has spent more than 4 billion US$ on life-changing, sustainable projects.
So, in addition to giving of our time and resources to charity, we should always remember to support our own Foundation.
For good food, friendships and the opportunity to serve others, we give thanks.
Robert Fisher
Thank you to Robert Fisher for providing this reflection on 27 March 2024.
