I thought of John’s blog entry on charity when I read a recent article in the Stanford Social Innovation Review.. In that about Project (RED), discussed elsewhere in Posipeople, John Rosenman rises a similar point:

We cannot consume our way to charity and to a better world. Doing good sometimes requires sacrifice, and we ought not allow ourselves to be convinced that we’ve done our part because of the color of what we use.

If our giving entails our getting something in return, that might fine, but I agree with John. It is not charity.

Doing Good to be Doing Good “Doing well ($) by Doing Good”; what a novel concept!

Charity is increasingly derided as an inferior way for us to help one another. I just did a search on the phrase “charity doesn’t work” and got 1040 hits (1080 hits if you use Internet Explorer). I then did a search for the phrase “charity does work” and got 7 hits. This evidence barely begins to touch on the increasingly negative sentiment towards charity. In the world of philanthropy - the world in which I work, this sentiment is becoming pervasive.

So what is charity? American Heritage defines charity as follows:

char·i·ty
1. Provision of help or relief to the poor; almsgiving.

2. Something given to help the needy; alms.

3. An institution, organization, or fund established to help the needy.

4. Benevolence or generosity toward others or toward humanity.

5. Indulgence or forbearance in judging others. See Synonyms at mercy.

6. often Charity Christianity The theological virtue defined as love directed first toward God but also toward oneself and one’s neighbors as objects of God’s love.

These are all nice definitions, but none of them capture the true meaning of charity as defined almost 2 millenium ago (reference). A smal portion of the true meaning is as follows:

“And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.“

The term “charity” as used today, often has no resemblance of true charity whatsoever. We could give everything we have to the poor, even give our lives to the poor and still not have a clue what charity is.

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This is a video of Randy Pausch’s last lecture. Dr. Randy Pausch is a professor at Carnegie Mellon University and he was recently diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. This video is his last lecture to his students. He has many great tips for all of us and is an example of living with enthusiasm and courage. Randy speaks truth and we are fortunate that we get to listen to what he has to say.

My favorite quote is “The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something.”

If you knew that you only had a handful of days to live, would that change anything about what you are doing with your life today? (The irony is that we all have a finite amount of time on Earth.)

Update: It has been brought to my attention that the full length version of his lecture is too long. So, I am posting a shorter, reprised version of his lecture on Oprah after the jump.

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If you want your clothes to signal that you care about social or environmental concerns, you won’t find it too hard to find a fashionable, eco-friendly brand. Green, guilt-free jeans, coats, shoes, t-shirts, sweaters abound.

But if you are looking for underwear or lingerie, something that only a few people may see - and that’s your business not mine, that’s a different story. It is easy to be green on the outside, but not so easy on the inside.

That’s why Ode Magazine’s recent story and video on a Sri Lankan company’s efforts to improve working conditions while remaining competitive in the competitive lingerie manufacturing environment caught my attention. The article profiles a single company, MAS, but the entire Sri Lankan garment industry wants to differentiate themselves from China, Bangladesh, India and other national competitors. (And who wants to run in a race to the bottom?) The whole industry strives to operate based on socially responsible practices that create garments without guilt. The GAP, Nike, and Victoria’s Secret all buy Sri Lankan products.

Gives the tag-line, Made in Sri Lanka, a whole new meaning.

This quote is brought to you at the good folks at the Foundation for a Better Life. This quote is about love. Enjoy!

“Who, being loved, is poor?”

- Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), poet, playwright, novelist

This competition just came to my attention. Net Impact is hosting its second annual “Green Challenge” global competition which recognizes students and professionals who make a positive environmental impact on campus and in companies. The press release is listed below.

Net Impact’s Second Annual “Green Challenge” Global Competition
Contest Recognizes and Supports Students and Professionals Who Make Positive Environmental Impact on Campus and in Companies

San Francisco, CA, February 6, 2008 - Net Impact’s 2008 “Green Challenge” has launched to accelerate the greening of campuses and businesses around the world. This competition measures the positive impact created by teams of students and professionals dedicated to using business to produce positive environmental change.

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