The holiday season is one of my favorite times to spend time with my family and friends, and it has become a very important part of my life. In our busy lives, there is no better time to take a break than the holidays as we are given structured time off to spend time together—whether or not we celebrate a holiday during that time.
Nonetheless, it is also a time when we are reminded to be more charitable, both during the holidays and throughout the year. The heart of a truly charitable person recognizes the interconnectedness of all humanity, and recognizes that we are all interdependent, regardless of our differences.
Charity is about wanting to give more than to receive and removing personal agendas from the equation. Above all, giving should be done with humbleness and connectedness.
Why Giving Is Good for the Charities You Support
1. Small, charitable donations have a huge impact
People are worried about poverty growing, but they end up not giving because they think that the small amount they can donate won’t make a difference. You should know that even a single dollar makes a huge difference so you should never stop giving.
2. It can help reduce poverty
One of the biggest reasons that you should donate is to remove poverty from the world. The most recent survey stated that 1 in 9 (or 3.98 million) people in Canada live in poverty. That number may seem high, but the number has been steadily declining year after year.
The more money a charity receives, the more that charity can give to others without wondering how the charity will survive to continue helping people.
How Donating Is Good for You as a Person/Business
1. Giving makes us feel happy
Researchers at the National Institutes of Health found that when people give to charities, it activates brain regions associated with pleasure, social connection, and trust, creating a “warm glow.” Researchers also believe altruistic behavior releases endorphins, producing the feeling of “helper’s high.”
2. Boosts employee morale
Giving back to your community goes beyond your personal fulfillment. In 2021, employees want their employers to be socially aware and are more likely to stay with a company that prioritizes giving back. Similar to the above statement, employees stand to benefit from the same feel-good positivity which increases employee morale.
How to Choose What Charity to Support
When it comes to charitable giving, I recommend finding an organization that aligns with your brand and mission, but it can also be something you personally support. One of the charities I support every year is the Goodness Gift Box.
Goodness Gift Box specializes in socially conscious gift boxes that support the employment of people on the autism spectrum and is a charity I have supported personally and through Computek College. I have been involved with numerous autism charities, such as the SAAC Autism Centre, throughout Canada.
If you want to give as a business, talk to your employees and find out what is important to them. You may find you have a budding philanthropist amongst your team.
For ideas on how you can get involved, give back, or leave a legacy, feel free to contact me. We can make a huge difference if we work together!
