Christmas has always been a season of giving from the Salvation Army Santa’s to Soup Kitchens, and the efforts of almost every religious group I can think of. I was curious about the generosity of previous generations but not only for the Christmas Season but generosity in general. So, here are a few samples of it from the past that have been long forgotten.
- John D Rockefeller made his first contribution to a philanthropic cause at the age of 16, which was in 1855. By the time he died, 82 years later, the oil magnate had given away $531,326,842.
- Ernest Hemingway gave to The Shrine of the Virgin in eastern Cuba, where he lived, Nobel Prize money he had won for the novel The Old Man and the Sea. “You don’t,” he said, “ever have a thing until you give it away.”
- When he learned, in 1905, that one of his company’s batteries was defective, Thomas Alva Edison offered to refund all buyers. From his own pocket he returned $1 million.
- About $330 million was donated by Andrew Carnegie to libraries, research projects, and world peace endeavors.
- Gerrit Smith, a trader of Dutch descent, made available 120,000 acres of Adirondack wilderness to runaway slaves – a noble experiment with the help of his son, who was a professional reformer active in the Underground Railroad.
- To help raise funds for the starving poor of Berlin, Albert Einstein in 1930 sold his autograph for three dollars for a signature and autographed photographs for five dollars each.
- In his will, Tadeusz Kosciuszko, the Polish patriot who fought in Washington’s army in the American Revolution, specified that the US land tracts he had received should be sold and the money from the sales be used to purchase the freedom of black slaves.
- From his own pocket, Superintendent of Finance, Robert Morris, met the American army’s demobilization pay in 1783. He was later thrown into the debtor’s prison, financially ruined in land speculation.
- The Swiss philanthropist Henri Dunant devoted so much of his money and his energy to the establishment of the Red Cross that his textile business failed, and he became penniless. He was a cowinner of the first Nobel Peace Prize, in 1901, and left all of the prize money to charities, not to his family.
After reading all of these examples it just proves to me that generosity has always been around but in many cases, never acknowledged. It’s nice to know there’s a certain percentage of the population willing to make pesonal sacrifices to help others. That’s a Christmas wish if there ever was one.
19 SHOPPING DAYS LEFT
Hello from the newly christened Christmas elf. I mentioned yesterday that I was thinking about setting up the Christmas tree as a surprise for my better-half. She wasn’t only surprised but stunned. As I predicted things began to happen as we talked all nite about getting into the attic tomorrow and unloading a few dozen boxes of decorations. Guess what we’re doing today. That’s right, putting them up. I’ll be needing a lot of D&D coffee for sure and quite possible a toddy or two later this evening. Christmas is fun but after a straight eight hours of it I get quite the headache.
Now that I’ve been made an official elf I plan on spreading more Christmas cheer among my readers by supplying them with information that is rarely publically admitted. I’m all for giving and donating doing the holidays and I’m a huge supporter of any organization that makes an effort to help the less fortunate. I’m also realistic enough to be somewhat skeptical as to where my donations go and whose reaping the benefits from them. The following list might help you decide what organizations will get your donated dollars in the future. As you open your pocketbooks for the next natural disaster, or the Christmas season, please keep these facts in mind:
The American Red Cross President and CEO Marsha J. Evans’ salary for the 2011 was $951,957 plus expenses.
The United Way President Brian Gallagher receives a $675,000 base salary along with numerous expense benefits.
UNICEF CEO Caryl M. Stern receives $1,900,000 per year (158K) per month, plus all expenses including a ROLLS ROYCE.
That list of money-grubbing bureaucrat salaries should shock you a little. Now for the list that really matters.
The Salvation Army’s Commissioner Todd Bassett receives a salary of only $13,000 per year (plus housing) for managing this $2 billion dollar organization.
The American Legion National Commander receives a $0.00 salary. Your donations go to help Veterans and their families and youth!
The Veterans of Foreign Wars National Commander receives a $0.00 salary. Your donations go to help Veterans and their families and youth!
The Disabled American Veterans National Commander receives a $0.00 salary.
The Military Order of Purple Hearts National Commander receives a $0.00 salary.
The Vietnam Veterans Association National Commander receives a $0.00 salary.
I know that you work as hard for you money as I do and you really care enough to help when you can. Bear this information in mind when your donating. It’s much more important for donated funds to actually help less fortunate people than to pay bloated salaries to a bunch of bureaucrats.
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