I like many of you have been blessed with good forune thru hard work and some luck I suppose. I also believe the harder I work the luckier I get... but that's for another discussion.

Do any of you give back to the community or any charitable organizations. It does not have to be financial many of us do that, but getting your hands dirty , volunteering etc.

I along with my wife volunteer with the Gift of Life Foundation in Philadelphia. The Gift of Life Foundation has many tasks. They help raise awareness for the need of organs, also speak to families who have just heard the worst news of their life that a loved one has died and asks if organ donation of their loved one is an option they would like to persue. As many of you know my wife had a liver transplant 2 years ago.

One of the more fun things we do is help man the Gift of Life information stand at Pro sporting events thru out the Philly area. Also my wonderful wife Michele is a gifted public speaker and speaks to several groups, clubs, churches etc each month.

We find it rewarding for many reasons but the most is giving back so that perhaps those waiting for organs have an easier go of it than my wife had.

 

We (our church) make bag lunches and take them to the homeless and hungry every Saturday. It always feels good to give something back.

And as quiet as it's kept, I give free piano lessons to kids whose parents can't afford lessons. I always get back more than I give.

 

As a parent of a son in a private catholic school, we are required to either give $300 or volunteer for 30 hours, each year. I get my hours in by being a substitute teacher in math classes. My 30 hours were done in October, so when they call now, I am doing it as a free volunteer. I wanted to be a math teacher but I didn't want a full time job, so this works for both of us.

 

I do a good bit of pro bono work--especially for the elderly and/or terminally ill. There have been a couple of folks who have signed wills in our office and then died a very short time later.

 

Give time to Habitat for Humanity. Volunteer on library board (town is just starting our own library) and hospital.

 

Worked for several years as a volunteer cook, dishwasher and waitress at Daily Bread (a soup kitchen) that feeds several hundred meals a day to indigent people, now serve on our social services board (free of charge) here in my city -- we donate in many ways to several charitable organizations and, of course, to our church.

 

Yes. Absolutely! God expects it of us!

Gerry

 

As you know, charlie, I have been involved for over 10 years with Habitat for Humanity....probably averaging 10 hours per week on various committees....working thru a merger of 4 urban affiliates....now Secretary of the Board of Directors for the Habitat Philadelphia .

Y'all will not be surprised that I am the HFHSA and constantly pushing other ppl to get off their butt It's a constant battle... 1/3 of the board do 100% of the work

Thanks for starting this thread....a good one

 

Well remind me never to sign a will in your office!

 

^^ At least they were sick before I got to them!

Actually, dad tells a story of when he had just graduated from law school and was in his first job. He did wills for several people who appeared perfectly healthy but died quickly thereafter. The will/death ratio got so bad that one of the partners told him that he'd never want dad to do his will. Maybe it's a family thing!