Alexandria St Patty's Day parade - countless bagpipes and kilts
…be Alexandria
Alexandria Virginia, my adopted home town, is a vibrant city with history, arts, fascinating people and something of a kilt obsession. On the surface a highly affluent place, Alexandria is also home to many people who struggle. Today as the kickoff to Spring for Alexandria (a series of fundraisers and volunteer events) the Spring 2 Action Alexandria event is raising money for local nonprofits. Because I have been so blessed and shaped by my art classes I plan to donate to The Art League. Because my friend K has been sharing with me some of the stories from her son’s elementary school, I’ll also send some money to a literacy organization. If you love Alexandria the way I do, please consider choosing one of the organizations on the list and adding your contribution.
If you aren’t an Alexandrian, consider donating in your community. There are many ways to find causes that need your dollars. I have used Catalogue for Philanthropy to learn about groups and have used Network for Good for many years to send regular small donations to the nonprofits that have touched my heart most. I am not by any means pronouncing myself particularly generous or philanthropic but I do believe that we can do amazing amounts of good within even limited means if we all give what little we can on a regular basis.
Bonus: using a service like Network for Good means you can give anonymously and never receive junk charity mail or phone calls again.
Times are tight. Money is short. As my doctor bills for the MRI and injections and visits come in I’m definitely remembering that. But to get a little perspective I go to the global rich list, enter my annual income, and rethink my definition of the 1%. To whom much is given….
This concludes this public service announcement. Tomorrow I promise frivolity.
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