5 Ways To Make The World A Better Place
by Ryan Thomas
Photography by Vincent Knakal
It would be nice to think the world’s problems would
be solved by an organized government, that our military’s eradication
of tyrants would trickle down to state-level affairs, that reduction in urban
crime would undo inner city poverties. But we know this to be false. As much
as we, in America, like to hold our policies and principles as examples for
the world to follow, there are many problems within our borders, amidst our
neighborhoods, that no amount of legislation has so far been able to abolish.
Many kids still struggle to read, people of all ages are homeless and hungry,
there are those living with disabilities in need of better assistance, an alarming
amount of natural resources are being used in excess ‹ all of these global
problems, though perhaps aided by broad government programs, require action
at the local level for true inroads and impact.
The San Diego community has
been extremely generous and selfless in its quest to help those in need.
The sheer number of charity groups and philanthropic
organizations is overwhelming and all have made tremendous strides. But it
is important to remember that even when fundraisers and special events are
not taking place, even if a group doesn’t exist to support a particular
cause, we, as individuals, can still make a difference. Adopt
According to the 2002 National Health and Human Services’ Adoption and
Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System, there are 532,000 children waiting
for a permanent home in various stages of foster care. In 2002 only 53,000 — or
just about 10 percent — were adopted. That leaves over half a million
children still looking for homes. Department of Justice statistics also reveal
that about 12 percent of unadopted children will eventually serve time as criminals.
Adoption
doesn’t need to be a baby; however, it can be a teenager or
even an animal. It also doesn’t have to be permanent. Many local schools
and churches have families who lack resources for holiday celebrations, who
would benefit greatly from “adoption.” Provide a holiday meal
or gifts, or underwrite school clothing and supplies.
Whichever adoption route
you might choose, the fact remains that whomever
is adopted is given a chance at a better life. It is, quite probably, the
greatest
act of giving.
“When I think of adoption,” says John Van
Zante, public relations director of Helen Woodward Animal Center, “I
think of this story: There is a beach that is completely covered with starfish.
A boy picks one up and throws
it
into the water. A man walks by and says, ‘Don’t bother son,
there are too many, you could stay here forever and it won’t make
a difference.’ The
boy picks up another starfish and throws it in the water and says, ‘It
made a difference to that one.’
”Trisha Crawford of Encinitas
recently decided she wanted a new puppy in her life. This on top of the
older dog and handful of cats she has
already
adopted
from local shelters. For her, the gratification of saving a life outweighs
the minor frustrations of such a growing family.
“I wanted to adopt,” she says, “because
I know the sooner these animals find homes, the sooner space becomes available
for other animals
in need. Going to a shelter means you are truly saving a life. You definitely
have to be ready, but it’s so fun, I forget about the frustrating
times. Now my older dog has a new friend and he acts years younger
as a result. It’s
a great feeling.”
Volunteer
Money may buy books for kids, but it won’t teach them to read.
It may buy clothing for people with disabilities, but it won’t
help them learn to dress. Donating time and energy is a personal commitment,
and the rewards
are often high as you witness people’s lives change before
your eyes. There is little cost involved and most organizations
are eager for volunteer
help.
Betty Lowe is 83 years old. Last year she received the
Volunteer of the Year award from Mama’s Kitchen for her dedication
to helping people with AIDS receive proper nutritional meals. While
the time she donates sometimes leads
toward heartache —as clients lose the battle with the disease — the
knowledge that she is able to help them makes it all worthwhile.
“I started volunteering because I was a singer and
spent a lot of time on the road,” she says. “I wanted to be
able to do something in my free time to make a difference. Working with
Mama’s Kitchen makes my heart
happy. The clients are very grateful and very sweet.”
Lowe’s
route is in Hillcrest on Mondays, which she says takes about
an hour and half to complete. She arrives at the Mama’s
Kitchen’s
food prep area around 3pm, picks up the meals, packs them in
bags, and is done delivering them before 5pm. In such short
spurts of time she has made many
new friends.
“I know a lot about their personal lives,” she
says. “A couple
of clients I will see outside of work, and I have my favorites. At the same
time, I’m maudlin over it; I have lost several of my great
loves.”
Despite her age, Lowe has no plans to stop
her volunteer work. The rewards, she explains, are too
great. “If Mama’s Kitchen wants me out,” she
laughs, “they will have to forcibly kick me out and
change the address. This is the best thing that’s
happened to me in my life.”
Give To Charities
Giving money to charities to help fund their programs is
simple and easy. Most of the time, you don’t even
have to leave your home. A check in the mail or an online
payment works wonders for organizations that aid those
in need.
There are any number of fundraisers happening each month
for various causes. Just look in the “Save the
Date” section of Ranch & Coast,
or check the social calendars in other publications.
Giving to charities, whether it’s money, food,
or clothing, is an effective way to influence change
and make the world a better place.
Marc Cummings, former
board member of the Nathan Cummings
Foundation, used to appropriate $100 million dollars
a year to various
charities. It is
in large part due to his contributions that organizations
such as Mama’s Kitchen
have reached their current levels of productivity. Cummings
donated $125,000 dollars to the AIDS meals charity, allowing
them to work on a full-time scale
as opposed to the 11-hours-a-week they started with.
“Personally, it gives me such a sense of satisfaction,” he
says. “I
know I’ve made a difference and I’ve made
a change. Giving to these charities gives them a sense
of self; they can go out and operate and strengthen
themselves. And it helps their public image.”
Cummings
focuses his intent not on organizations that can live
without additional funds, but rather those he
identifies
as
being most in
need.
Criteria for identifying worthy charities can vary,
but Cummings mentions some traits that he looks for when
donating: “A charity that gives money away
as well, that’s not leeching on society’s
checkbook. The people should be intimately involved
in the charity, it should be their passion, their
goal.”
Cummings might be a rare case considering
the amount he’s donated, but
his end personal result has been no more than those
who give less: giving is giving, the act is its own
reward.
“It’s been very rewarding and it’s been
a huge part of my life,” he
says. “I am fortunate to have made a change.
I love making a difference.”
Start A Foundation
Were it not for foundations, numerous causes would
go overlooked, and national organizations would become
spread
thin trying
to raise money
sufficient
for every need, big and small. There are a number
of ways to start, and having
a lawyer help with tax and legal issues is probably
the first thing you’ll
want to do — the Internal Revenue Code affects the way foundations operate
as well as the information they must make public. The process, depending on
the type of foundation you are starting, can take anywhere from a few days
to a few months. After that, it’s really a matter of donating and distributing
money.
“There are two [types of foundations] to start,” says
Jill Metcalf, vice president of charitable giving for The San Diego Foundation. “Private
foundations are really for $5 million or more. Or for around $10,000 people
can start a donor advised foundation fund.”
Both types allow for the
channeling of funds to specific charities. While one is more anonymous
than the other, the idea is that both will organize
your
charitable giving.
Bill Kuni, former chairman and CEO of Donjoy Orthopedics
in North County, as well as other public and private companies, started
a donor advised
foundation fund that routinely benefits local youth and conservation
groups. He was
inspired
in this direction by memories of his own New England childhood, in which
generous individuals mentored him and gave him an opportunity to succeed.
“These mentors gave me scholarships, and gave me
an education,” he
says. “Since
then, I have always been struck by the potential of young people when
they are given opportunities. There are many who have disadvantaged backgrounds;
they have promise but could fall through the cracks without help.”
Kuni
says he started donating like most people, by writing checks to organizations
of which he was fond. His foundation fund, he says, is
a much better way
to allocate the money. And since he works through The San Diego Foundation,
they
do most of the work, allowing him to choose his level of involvement. “I
opened the fund for $10,000. I can remain anonymous, and take my
leisure with when and how the money goes out. I also helped develop
a staff
of conservation
experts to help determine the best organizations to support, since
one of my concerns is San Diego’s continuing sprawl. I like
the way this fund works, especially coming from a business background.”
Despite
the fact that some of the causes may never know who gave them the
funds, Kuni says, “Just knowing I made a difference is good
enough for me.”
Be Environmentally Responsible
Nearly five billion people inhabit the earth. Each one needs to
live, travel, eat, and toil. As a result, sprawling development
and advancing
technology
have torn down thousands of acres of forest, killed off numerous
species of wildlife, and devoured natural resources. The earth-conscious
boom
of the ’80s,
with its Earth Day celebrations and Greenpeace fanaticism, offered a brief
respite from over-consumption, but a simple look at today’s urban sprawl
and landfill sizes proves we are still gormandizing.
“I’m environmentally concerned,” says
Greg Voisen, founder and president of eLuminate, a corporate and life coaching
consulting firm, who
advocates
hybrid car usage and is working toward encouraging businesses
to contribute to the environment. Though he may have the resources to drive
almost any car
of his choosing, he says, “It is my belief that every
American needs to do more to save fuel and stop global warming.
A little
effort makes a big
difference.”
Voisen’s business is in North County,
in an area where recycling programs have not yet been instituted.
Instead, he places boxes under desks then takes
the materials home to recycle. By taking the time to separate
out papers and boxes, his weekly contribution to the landfill — home
and business combined — is
down to only one bag.
Voisen’s hybrid car, a Toyota
Prius, used to get funny looks. Now, he says, people are
eager to check it out, and
many have been impressed with its
functions. Some have even expressed interest in buying one. The
concept seems to have hit home in many circles. In 2005,
Lexus will release its first luxury hybrid car, the RX 330
SUV, and while
many sales
will be
in protest to OPEC, the end result will be far less noxious
fumes harming the
atmosphere.
Lexus group vice president Denny Clements spoke
to the press at its unveiling in Detroit. “You can drive from Los
Angeles to New York and back nine times — that’s 54,000 miles — and
produce less smog-forming emissions than painting a room with a gallon
of house paint.”
Clements is referring to one car, and Voisen’s
single trash bag output is the work of one man. Now imagine if everyone
followed suit.
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