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Health & Fitness

Charity Spring Patch Digest: Hurricane Sandy philanthropy initiatives

Monday edition of Charity Spring Patch Digest

Guest Reflection on the Meaning of Charity

Charity is love, though the word has become narrowed to mean giving. To be charitable is to be filled with mercy, forgiveness, patience, kindness and self-control. When we extend forgiveness and self-restraint to the co-worker who has stabbed us in the back we are being as charitable as we are when we feed the poor, because charity not only feeds physical hunger, but recognizes and seeks to heal anger, hatred, selfishness, and hurt in the soul. When there is great physical suffering we empathize and respond. But the transformative power of charity is found in daily mercies.    http://teacher-preneur.com

Tanushree’s Reflection: On Humility

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A great Buddhist once said that we should keep two papers with us all the time. One paper should read "for my sake the world was created” in one pocket, and a piece of paper with “I am but dust and ashes” in another. These contrasting messages teach us a lesson of us being important versus self-importance.

Stepping towards the light of knowledge should make you anything but proud. Humility needs courage as it is always easy to retaliate but is tough to keep silent and have the self-control. Patience is the key to unlock the door of humility. Humility should never be confused with helplessness. It comes with the power of choice. It means that you can decide what you should do. You need never be forced.

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Pride makes us blind and makes us behave in strange ways. We live in a world where people are known by what they earn and what they wear. But a humble person looks at everyone equally. It is a joy to bow down and help anyone and everyone. When we leave this world what will be remembered about us will have nothing to do with what we gathered, but rather by what we gave, especially of ourselves.

Fairfield County & Donor News

For a good summary of what's been happening in the philanthropic world surrounding Hurricane Sandy, go here.

For a review of what Hurricane Sandy is likely to do to the US economy, go here.

Here are few updates on various fundraising initiatives about which you may be curious:

  • The ABC Network announced a relief effort, designating today (Monday) as a “Day of Giving” where shows like Good Morning America and others will be used to generate donations from viewers.
  • According to CNN, the American Red Cross had received $35 million from the general public as of Friday (Nov 2) morning.
  •  The U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimated that as of mid-day Friday businesses had contributed more than $38 million in cash and employee-matching or customer-matching programs to the Red Cross and other relief agencies.
  •  These early contributions are “comparable” to gifts received in the first days following other international disasters – such as tsunami that rocked Japan last year and the 2010 Haiti earthquake. In total the Red Cross raised more than $300 million for Japan and $475 million for Haiti.
  • Network for Good processed about $715k in contributions – also similar to Haiti and Japan.
  • United Way, the Salvation Army, World Vision, the United Methodist Church and dozens of other organizations have mounted text-to-give and online fundraising efforts. You can see a roundup of activities here.
  • NBC Universal networks mounted a major on-air fundraising effort with a star-studded special on behalf of the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. It raised a reported $55 million.  Click here for that story.
  • The sports world also responded. The NFL and NFLPA joined together to donate $1 million to the Red Cross; Green Bay Packer Charles Woodson announced a $100,000 donation; and the New York Yankees donated $500,000.

Patch Tips!

Charity Spring

See what more than 5,000 people around the world are reading at Charity Spring (live since October 4th). For many additional links to help you build financial support and awareness for your Fairfield County cause see the Charity Spring Patch Digest homepage. Please comment here to let us know what news and opportunities you want us to find for you or to simply let us know what you think.

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