A Holly, Jolly Christmas May Involve Helping Your Neighbor

With Christmas less than two weeks away, the holiday spirit is making the rounds faster than Santa and his globetrotting team, and it’s delivering gifts to many for whom this year is short on merriment.

“We know that God blesses us so we can be a blessing to others,” Reverend Kent J. Broughton said.

Broughton and dozens of his church members gathered Friday night for a Christmas Fun Festival in Fordyce, Arkansas. A donation of $10 provided dinner, games, and door prizes with the proceeds earmarked for a summer Christian leadership conference for teenagers.

“Rev. Broughton wanted to have a Christmas party for the adults to help the youth,” Clada Williams, one of the Festival’s committee members, explained. 

‘Tis the Season

Mining the goodwill of the season to fund a year of giving is also the reason the Little Rock Chapter of Links, Incorporated, the national women’s organization, hosts its signature event during December. Last year the group raised $100,000 to support scholarships for college students, the four Historically Black Colleges and Universities in Arkansas, and other programs. They hope to set a new fundraising record on Saturday.

“Our sponsors are supportive and believe in what we do,” Chapter President Lana Nayles said.

GivingTuesday

Eight years ago, the entire world focused on giving in December with the launch of GivingTuesday. Blackbaud, described as “the world’s leading cloud software company powering social good”, is a founding partner of GivingTuesday during which donations of time, financial resources, and other charitable gifts are pledged. This year GivingTuesday.org announced that $511M was donated online which was a 28% increase from 2018.

And, while the Yuletide Season brings out the giver in many, helping financially throughout the year is the goal of organizations like the Young, Black and Giving Back Institute. The organization’s website says its mission is to “educate, inspire, and empower young black professionals, influencers, social entrepreneurs, and activists” to change their communities through philanthropy.

Are You A Philanthropist?

 Most Americans reserve the lofty work of philanthropy for billionaires like Bill Gates and Oprah Winfrey. But, the Clinton School Center on Community Philanthropy offers insight into grassroots philanthropy which embraces the generosity neighbors extend to neighbors during times of need. During a 2016 speech at the Center, Scholar Celeste Clark with the Kellogg Foundation emphasized a quote to explain the significance of assistance.

“I think this is the essence of what philanthropy is really all about,” she said. It says, ‘It is one of the most beautiful compensations of this life that no man can sincerely help another without helping himself. Serve and thou shall be served.’”

Clark added, “It is very difficult to give to someone else without feeling that sense of gratification…this is what underlines and underpins what philanthropy, “especially community philanthropy, is all about.”

Millions will serve others this Christmas by donating turkeys, hams, and toys at schools, churches, and community centers around the nation. Secret donors with deep pockets will grab headlines. But, the numerous small gifts add up and will spread some holiday cheer…even if they are not unwrapped until July when the money raised at last night’s Christmas Fun Festival will bless a group of teenagers with an invitation to learn and grow in their faith.