April 2011 Newsletter

Greetings from Voices for Philanthropy! Welcome to Spring. Current events, including the ongoing threat to human health and well-being following the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, remind us of the power of the human spirit and our commitment to help our neighbors both home and abroad. This month we regroup to celebrate the spirit of philanthropic generosity in supporting one another through good and bad times.

These monthly e-newsletters are designed to provide a snapshot of American philanthropy; highlighting events, acknowledging important dates, and profiling individuals, organizations and others making a difference.

An optimist is the human personification of spring. --- Susan J. Bissonette

Keeping the Faith

Easter and Passover are the most widely acknowledged religious holidays in the U.S. in April, but did you know that both the Hindu and Buddhist faiths celebrate New Year’s in April?

Many of the world’s religions encourage support of others and, while faith alone cannot take the credit for philanthropic giving, the role of faith in philanthropy and the interaction between the two cannot be overestimated. For decades, Americans have given more to faith-based organizations than any other type of organization. Even in tough economic times, that trend continues. In fact, Giving USA’s Annual Report on Philanthropy for 2009 showed that while overall giving dropped 3.6%, giving to religion showed only a .07% decline.  

Earth Day

On April 22, 2011, the Earth Day Network will celebrate A Billion Acts of Green® “in recognition of the power of a million individual actions.” Earth Day’s founder, Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, was passionate about the environment and environmental protection.

More than three decades later, this Earth Day organization supports a robust and ever-growing movement to raise public consciousness about the environment and how it can and should be protected. And they are not alone in this dedication. Today, there are hundreds of organizations with missions dedicated to a diversity of causes designed to strengthen environmental protection and awareness of nature. From marine life, rain forests, clean air and water, to animals and animal habitats; there is a wide range of issues matching individual passion for a specific cause. 

National Autism Awareness Month

April is recognized as National Autism Awareness month and is dedicated to raising the level of knowledge about autism, autism spectral disorders, and issues of autism. In December 2009 the Center for Disease Control reported that 1 in every 110 births and almost 1 in 70 boys are affected by autism (For more facts and figures about autism, go to: http://www.autism-society.org/about-autism/facts-and-statistics.html).

There are many organizations employing a wide range of methods to address the issues facing those with autism, including research, housing, jobs, education, technology, and advocacy, just to name a few. One example of an organization doing this work is the Marcus Autism Center in Atlanta, Georgia, in its mission “to provide information, services, and programs to children with autism and related disorders, their families and those who live and work with them.” To learn more, visit www.marcus.org. 

March was American Red Cross Month

We celebrated the American Red Cross in March but wanted to acknowledge their efforts in disaster recovery again this month in acknowledgement of the tragedy in Japan and the efforts to help the Japanese people rebuild their communities. Visit www.redcross.org to learn more or visit this story on the Huffington Post on the variety of organizations involved.

Voices for Philanthropy Profile

Finally, amidst coverage of a government shutdown we want to remind our readers that stories of inspiration are as prevalent as those of controversy, but unfortunately covered much less in the news.

This month we highlight Junior Achievement Rocky Mountain, the chapter of Junior Achievement in the metro Denver Area, northern Colorado, and southern Wyoming. Junior Achievement (JA) is the world’s largest organization dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy. Robin Wise, CEO of Junior Achievement Rocky Mountain and a Voice for philanthropy, has grown her organization more than tenfold, reaching from 8,000 students in1990-91 to 95,000 students in the 2009-10. (Listen to a message from Ms. Wise). Junior Achievement Rocky Mountain is currently the 8th largest JA operation in the nation and is bringing more than 3,200 business volunteers into classrooms each year.

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