A few years ago I realized I had no intense desire for more material possessions….and that any desire I did have was much less intense than a desire to buy and read more books.
So, I spread the word: if you want to get me something for Christmas or for my birthday, check out my Amazon wish list and buy me a book, or donate to a charity on my behalf. The past two Christmases I’ve given a handful of small donations on other people’s behalf (Acumen Fund, Junior Giants Fund, Ms. Foundation, George Washington Kenmore Foundation, and others).
This year, I am supporting the Ashoka Foundation. I just submitted my donation online with a credit card. They do excellent work in the area of “social entrepreneurship”. Social entrepreneurship takes the principles of entrepreneurship and applies them to social problems. In addition to attending an Ashoka event a few weeks ago, I chatted on the phone last week with one of their heads to hear about their new IT initiatives. I’m a fan.
It’s the holidays. If you have the resources to read this blog, you have the resources to give a little. Please do.
In the holiday spirit of giving to not-for-profits, an alternative to those great ones that are social entrepreneur-based such as Ashoka, there are those that invest in people to suport them and those around them to be self-sustaining.
The one that tops my list for this holiday is Heifer
<http://www.heiferfoundation.org/>
Ben, perhaps you are inadvertently inspiring others to their favorite groups that can make a difference over the long haul. There’s a Sufi saying that goes something like, “God creates only co-equal partners.
Sorry to have missed meeting you in person at the Keiretsu holiday party. Am eager to read your book next year – Kare, SavvyHer.com