Giving Back

"We need to give back; we need to show our youth how to give back." - Sheila Crump Johnson

I heard Sheila speak as the first speaker at the Biennial Women's Conference last week, and while her presentation was a simple question and answer session, her message and her actions were inspiring. Sheila is the first black woman billionaire, and she is a huge advocate for women, children and those affected by poverty.

Women in more than 90 percent of countries are uneducated, and therefore impoverished. Here we are in the United States, with an astounding dropout rate, and there are children in other countries begging to go to school. There are women who will be in poverty for the rest of their lives because they didn't receive an education and now have children to feed.

"There are so many opportunities in this country, there is no excuse for failing," Sheila said.

Giving back should be a no-brainer, but it's very sad finding out by talking to others that this isn't true. We are so very blessed and fortunate that to me, it is a necessity to give back, both to our church and to charities. Make it a habit and see how good it makes you feel.

One of the messages I liked most in her presentation was to become involved and really get to know these organizations that you are giving money to. Don't just write a check. Research them, meet with them and find out how your money can best help their cause.

I find this subject to be very timely today. A while back, I blogged about UIS student Shana Stine who volunteered at an orphanage in Kenya and then returned to start the organization Jump for Joel to raise money for the children there. In July, Shana is going back, along with several other friends to volunteer at the Gathiga Children's Home once more, working on different parts of the home, playing with the children and taking over clothing and food for them.

Evan and I wanted to give to Jump for Joel after being so inspired by Shana's actions. Today, Shana and I got together and she told me about their upcoming trip and we talked about what the children need. She said that sometimes the children have to sit out from school because they are behind in payments, and sometimes this affects their grades. I told her I wanted our money to go to helping some of the young girls there get an education so that they have a chance of rising out of poverty and fulfilling their dreams.

One of the girls that Shana told me the money would help is named Grace, and her favorite subject is math; she wants to be an accountant. Shana wrote me an email after she left my office, which said: "Thank you SO MUCH for helping the kids at Gathiga! I'll let you know when the money is wired, and how Grace (one of the high school girls) responds. She's going to be SO excited!!"

The email brought tears to my eyes and made me realized all over again how exciting it is to help others when we can. I hope anyone reading this can find something they are passionate about and give back.