The Biggest Gifts from the Smallest Packages
Bigger doesn't mean better. Or maybe better said that “more isn't always best.”
In our industry, it is quite normal when an organization receives a mega gift from a philanthropist that we see and hear about it on the front page of either our local newspaper, on the web, or reported in some philanthropic publication. And I'm not advocating for change. And when you talk about gifts like the Langone’s, creating an opportunity for students to go to medical school without any debt, it's well deserved.
But recently I read about an incredible gift of $100 (https://www.argusobserver.com/news/first-grader-donates-birthday-money-to-nonprofit/article_dfb7ae42-eaab-11ee-9769-4b8bd836b157.html) .
Nicholas Milburn is a philanthropist. And at the highest possible levels. And he's seven years old. For the past four birthdays, Nicholas has decided that his birthday money should go to a local nonprofit to help others. And he's done this now for multiple years. One year it went to a hospital and kids in need. Another year it was to the Shriners club. Each year, on his birthday, without any pressing from his parents, Nicholas gives his money to help others.
We've tried to have similar conversations with our children. I think they would tell you, even at ages 10 and 7, that they're awfully lucky. Blessed. We as parents would agree with the sentiments as well. Over the last couple of years, we've tried to have birthday parties where our children's friends would bring books or something else that we would give to the school library. Try to reduce the number of unnecessary (and loud) toys coming into the house. For the most part, our kids support this concept pretty fully.
But there was something about the article about Nicholas that I couldn't get past. A 7-year-old, since he was three, with the self-determination in helping others as a part of his way of celebrating his birthday. I'm not sure that he wanted to be highlighted in a story per se. That's not why he did it. But it's a good reminder that while I advocate deeply the giving of mega gifts from the mega wealthy, it's many times the small heartfelt gifts that raise all of us up.
Seems like a 7-year-old has got a fairly good life in front of him, helping others as well as helping himself.
