PHILANTHROPIC FOOTPRINT

What's your Philanthropic Footprint? Is it a slight impression that is barely visible and will eventually fade only to give way for further acts of goodness in the future? Or is it a deep imprint that continues to have a strong impact on the community?

Does your Philanthropic Footprint create a path for positive social change, a path that inspires others to join causes? Do you have a Philanthropic Footprint?

Unlike environmental footprints (carbon, water, waste, fuel, ecological) where individuals and organizations seek ways to reduce consumption and minimize the negative effects impacting the globe, the objective of a Philanthropic Footprint is the opposite: it should be maximized and intensified for a positive and fulfilling life engaged in activism.

To analyze and enhance one's Philanthropic Footprint, one first needs to understand the theory.

A Philanthropic Footprint, a term I coined, is an emotional and physical journey that is guided by one's heart, mind and soul. It is an imprint of goodness created through a series of altruistic steps that encourage a positive change in society while forgoing opportunities for financial or economic gain. It is an imprint for the betterment of humanity.

True philanthropy does not require an exhaustive written document with plans, procedures and policies. Nor does it require a detailed tracking of the total hours worked, number of individuals helped, quantity of items collected or the sum of dollars contributed. The reason action plans are created and figures and statistics tabulated are: to provide guidance and goals for those involved, to inspire others, to give a voice to the needs of the community, and to validate the efforts of the programs. It can also provide a benchmark to determine what was successful, and what can be done to improve the activity?

There are many synonyms for philanthropy: human kindness, volunteerism, activism, goodwill, compassion, humanity, charity, patronage, generosity, benevolence, love, and so on.

A footprint, real or imagined, indicates that someone has been there physically or in spirit. It is a story of their journey. There are many positive and enlightening footprints: Neil Armstrong's footprint on the moon, warriors who trekked into battle and our ancestor's footprints in fossils.

Your footprint on a birth certificate identifies you as a unique individual: it tells the story of who you are and where you were born. The Philanthropic Footprint is an account of where you have been and the good deeds you have performed.

Each of us has the opportunity to establish a Philanthropic Footprint to leave a legacy and an impression on the universe.

Philanthropy is not a term or action reserved for the wealthy, albeit they may have more resources to back their efforts such as writing a substantial check or attending high-ticket fundraising soirées. We are grateful for these benefactors; they are a vital segment of philanthropy and without them many organizations would collapse.

But anyone has the potential to be a philanthropist, has something to offer, and can help in creating change whether it be their time, talent, voice, or experience.

Community stewardship and corporate social responsibility (CSR ) have become notable benchmarks for society and businesses worldwide. As the head of the household, a business owner or a corporate executive, you may find yourself in the position to make a decision regarding philanthropic endeavors. How will you lead them to create change?

One of the most important steps in establishing a Philanthropic Footprint is to create a sustainable program by connecting with the proper nonprofit or cause be it socio-economic, educational, health related, environmental, animal-focused or other platform.

We take time to seek out the "best fit" for a career, occupation, or employees by matching skills and traits to job descriptions and responsibilities. The same care and investment should be made with regards to philanthropy. There is a cause or platform for everyone and every business.

From individual acts of kindness to large scale CSR initiatives, each is a valued and necessary component for our society to survive. It's not about affecting masses of individuals or collecting thousands of dollars in contributions; it's about connecting from the heart. Even if only a single person has reaped the benefit of one's actions, it is worth the effort.

Nonetheless, there are ways to optimize the potential for effective stewardship, intensifying one's Philanthropic Footprint!

HUMAN KINDNESS

Human kindness comes in all forms as there is no exact means of performance or measurement.

Have you ever:

... shaved your head for cancer?

... adopted a pet from the shelter?

... supported the high school car wash?

... purchased a box of cookies from the Girl Scouts?

... rounded up your check for charity at a restaurant?

... dropped a few coins in the donation jar at the grocery checkout line?

... answered the call of the holiday kettle bell by dropping in a few dollars?

... placed items such as used clothing, housewares, or toys in a local collection bin?

One isn't required to participate in these activities; you can walk past the holiday kettle, purchase cookies at any store, obtain a purebred from a breeder, get the car cleaned at the local car wash, or sell used items in a garage sale. Why do we indulge in these actions? We feel the impulse to contribute and it makes us feel good, a sensation often referred to as the "helpers high." You should feel good! We want people to feel valued—to feel empowered by their acts of human kindness. These are all acts of philanthropy.

Human kindness confronts major issues such as human trafficking, hunger or ethical sourcing. It can also be a small act such as a smile for a stranger sitting on the bus, assisting an elderly person walk across the street or rescuing an animal in distress.

In June of 2013, I was walking my little dog around my block when I noticed a small unusual bird perched on a branch gazing at me. Just a few feet away the bird made no movement or sound, other than its eyes following me. As I moved closer to the bird that resembled a miniature owl, its eyes seemed to grow wider compelling me to help it. The bird was in need of care. I was concerned for its safety since there were several feral cats in the area that might find the bird to their liking. The injured bird may not survive the night.

I returned home to get a box in which to transport it to a local bird sanctuary. It didn't take much effort to get the bird in the box, but I was concerned about causing further damage to it. A call to the sanctuary proved unfruitful. The elderly man who runs the sanctuary stated it was late in the day and to call back in the morning.

I turned to social media to inquire if anyone knew what kind of bird it was. No one was able to identify the type of bird only that it was a fledgling.

I was apprehensive about caring for the bird overnight; the pet store was closed and none of my friends had a cage I could use. I didn't want to leave the bird closed up in a box all night. I drew on my inner "MacGyver" searching the house for items that could be used to construct a pseudo birdcage allowing for light and air. I grabbed some zip ties and two baking cooling racks. Before securing the racks to the box I placed a small bowl of water, some trigs from the same bush I found the bird in and a few nuts. I didn't really know what to feed it. Then I anxiously waited for morning.

Bright and early I called the sanctuary but after describing the bird to the gentlemen, he indicated it was a bird of prey and the sanctuary did not accept these types of birds. Thankfully he knew a woman named Tina who rescued and cared for injured birds including birds of prey.

I contacted Tina, a delightful individual I now refer to as "the bird whisperer." She lived in my neighborhood and was going to the nearby pet store to purchase supplies. She was more than happy to accept the fledgling if I could bring it to her. I inquired if I could give her some money to care for the bird but she refused.

She cared for injured birds out of human kindness.

I arrived at the pet store early and purchased a gift card to give her. Upon presenting her the box with the bird, she literally ripped it open and picked up the bird. She cradled it in her palm and started feeding it tiny pieces of raw chopped beef dipped in water, all the while whispering calming messages to it.

Tina explained the bird was a female, sparrow hawk, dehydrated and malnourished. It has obviously been separated from its mother and would have perished within a day had it not been rescued. She placed the bird in an open carrying box as it continued to eat. She encouraged me to call back anytime and check on the progress of the bird. Before leaving I offered the gift card I purchased. She was hesitant to accept it but I insisted, hoping the purchases would go to saving many injured birds under her care. Over the months I thought about the fledgling and would call to check on its progress.

Prior to that incident, I had never seen that type of bird, nor had I since until one morning perched on my patio table right outside my kitchen door was a sparrow hawk looking at me through the glass door. We gazed at each other for a few seconds and then off it flew. I called Tina to check on the latest progress of the bird and she informed me that she had recently set it free along with several other sparrow hawks she had nurtured back to good health.

Was the sparrow hawk on my patio table the same one stopping by to say thanks? The time table indicates it could have been. But even if it wasn't, it was certainly a sign from nature.

A sparrow hawk eating food prepared by Tina "the bird whisperer," a wonderful lady who cares for injured birds. I found the distressed fledgling in my neighborhood and was connected with Tina through the local bird sanctuary. (2013) Photo by MV P.

Even in situations where one cannot directly provide assistance, witnessing acts of human kindness can bring a sense of hope, love and admiration.

One afternoon traveling home from a meeting, I was stopped at a very busy intersection, six lanes wide with an island divider, surrounded by vehicles. At the front of the line of cars waiting for the light to change was a stalled car. An older gentleman got out and stood next to the vehicle pondering how he would move it out of the way of traffic. Driving alone in my car in the middle of the traffic several cars behind him, I considered what I could do to assist. Abandoning my vehicle in traffic to aid him would not have solved the bigger problem. I could park the car and help push it to the side, but I would have to wait for the light to change to get to the nearest parking lot.

In front of me, a few cars to the right, I noticed a young man sitting in the backseat of an SUV . The window was rolled down and he pointed towards the stalled car. Within seconds, the young man and his two friends jumped out of the car and raced to assist the man. The teens instructed him to steer while they pushed. When the light turned green, I, along with other drivers in the intersection witnessing the act of kindness, gave way to the vehicle allowing the teens to push the car across the interaction, up a rise and into the corner gas station. The mother driving the SUV followed close by escorting them to safety.

It was so impressive to watch a group of teens work as a team, to help someone in distress. I was also proud of the caring mother who allowed her son and his friends to help a stranger.

INVOLVEMENT

One of the biggest dilemmas in activism is determining your level of involvement. Do you join an existing cause? Give an existing program an added boost? Establish a program for an underserved group? Or possibly start your own nonprofit or foundation?

Your involvement level can be influenced by many factors: the amount of time, finances and resources you can devote to the endeavor. Other influences include the impact the cause or issue relates to you or your industry. And your personal traits will also come into play; are you a follower or an instigator?

Enhancing an Existing Program

In 1993, I was the Promotions Director for the Ice Palace, an ice skating rink in Hawaii. The annual MDA skate-a-thon was approaching. Ice skaters would take on the grueling challenge of skating for 24 hours, raising money and awareness for MDA in collaboration with the Stars Across America Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon weekend.

I pondered how we could enhance the program. How could we make it better? How can we encourage more skaters? How can we make it more meaningful for the participants? And most importantly, can we make the skate-a-thon more relevant for those suffering from muscular dystrophy?

To kick-off the skate-a-thon we recruited entertainers from Waikiki Beach to open the event. Legends in Concert impersonators Elvis and Marilyn greeted skaters and performed the national anthem from the ice.

We also enlisted support from our fellow strip mall tenants and the rink's vendors to sponsor the event. Sponsors supplied door prizes as well as food and beverages for the skaters who were given a brief break every hour.

And, for the first time ever, we coordinated a special skating session inviting Paul Leese, the MDA Junior Goodwill Ambassador and his friends Warren and Elton Kaneahua to join the skaters on the ice. This was an empowering experience for everyone involved with the skate-a-thon as it gave the skaters a special boost of enthusiasm to power through the challenge. For the kids suffering from muscular dystrophy, it was a new experience.

In a statement from Paul's mother, she said "This is his first time on the ice, he was so excited about the idea of joining the kids. He really had a great time sliding around like a real hockey player."

Establishing a Program

Challenges and issues concerning one's industry may provoke business professionals to become involved. Such was the case for swimming pool executive Joseph Vassallo.

Las Vegas was growing by leaps and bounds when we moved here in 1995. New home construction was exploding and swimming pools were considered one of the vital components of the house. By happenstance, I retained a position in the marketing department with the company who was building our residential pool.

It was our inaugural summer in the desert where temperatures regularly get to the 3-digit mark. The first report of a child drowning was startling and heart breaking. Remember, I was a trained life guard and water safety instructor. How and why could this happen? My boss, Joseph Vassallo at the pool company, was also concerned with the issue of child safety around pools.

Vassallo recalls, "This was an era when a lot of industries were addressing safety concerns, especially child safety issues. Child safety was coming more and more to the forefront not only with consumers but also with legislators. Regulations were starting to be enacted and industry representatives knew they needed to get more involved, to realize remedies for the safety concerns. The pool industry was no different. Every year the reports of drowning, whether it be in a pool, bathtub or lake, were starting to get highly publicized. This is a zero-tolerance issue with people in our industry. It is also something that can be prevented."

Joe and I contemplated how to address this issue. The answer we felt was to educate consumers how to be safe around pools. It was a topic we didn't shy away from but addressed head on.

"People on their own take safety precautions in their daily life," explained Vassallo. "If a new child started to crawl around the room, the parents would start to put knickknacks away, cover electrical outlets, and place locks on the cabinet doors that had cleaning chemicals or other dangers items. This wasn't something that was foreign to people. We just had to educate them and let them know what they should do with regards to pools and spas."

This is a cause that needs to be readdressed constantly. So each year as pool season got under way, Joe and I would launch a water safety campaign, making the rounds of the local print and TV media.

When Joe opened his own pool company, Paragon Pools in 2001, we became even more aggressive with the campaign. Working in collaboration with the city of Las Vegas, we co-hosted an afternoon of activities at a city pool, providing free entrance for event goers. A lot of the messaging at the events and with the media was focused on drowning prevention. But Joe and I felt a more family friendly approach could be more effective at capturing the consumer's attention.