Denise Keiser, Fund Development Specialist
November is a month in which we celebrate the culture of philanthropy at Elder Law of Michigan. While many people think of philanthropy as the giving of money to support a specific cause, philanthropy comes in many forms. In fact, the definition of philanthropy is:
[fi-lan-thruh-pee]
noun,
- An altruistic concern for human welfare and advancement, usually manifested by donations of money, property, or work to needy persons.
- The act of donating one’s time.
- An organization devoted to helping needy persons or to other socially useful purposes.
As a non-profit organization, Elder Law of Michigan participates in philanthropy by giving back to those in need across the communities we serve. You likely already know, that as a charity organization, Elder Law of Michigan operates as a result of monetary donations along with federal, state and private grant funds. On the other hand, did you know that we engage in philanthropy in other ways too? In this blog, we share how our team supports a culture of philanthropy by serving those who need our help most in three ways.
1. Giving
Elder Law of Michigan has participated in the Capital Area United Way (CAUW) annual campaign as an employer for more than fifteen years. We’re proud to say that in 2017 we had 100% employee participation and raised over $1,600. As an employee of Elder Law of Michigan who gave through the CAUW annual campaign, Nicholas Goodman said, “I know the kind of impact my organization makes because I see it every day. That’s why I participated in the annual giving campaign.” Nicholas, much like the other employees who gave, found it rewarding to give money to a charity that they know works hard to do good in our community.
2. Volunteering
For the past five years, Elder Law of Michigan has encouraged staff members to get involved in other philanthropic acts like serving on the boards of other charities doing good for their communities. Our team member, Michelle Jackson, recently joined the board of Tri-County Triad, which serves and enriches the lives of older adults through education and outreach in the tri-county region of Ingham, Eaton, and Clinton counties. As a board member, Michelle offers four to five hours a month of her service to the organization. She says her proudest acts on the board are, “helping to ensure older adults with disabilities receive ramps for access to their homes as well as helping to organize their annual No Senior Without Christmas event.”
3. Serving
Certainly, we celebrate giving at Elder Law of Michigan, but we also recognize that doing good for our community is just as important in the promotion of philanthropy. That’s why the leaders of Elder Law of Michigan inspire team members to get out into the community and serve through other charities. Jennifer Blanck, another team member, does good in her community, in part, by delivering hot meals to vulnerable, older adults in cooperation with Tri-County on Aging’s Meals on Wheels program. Jennifer delivers to two routes twice a month and tells us that “it’s the smiling faces that keep me coming back week after week and knowing that I’m quite likely the only visitor many seniors see on the day of my deliveries.”
So you see, philanthropy is much more than giving dollars. Acts of philanthropy also include volunteering your time at the local food pantry, sitting on a charity’s board of directors or raising money for a cause you’re passionate about. Do more good in your community by choosing one of these acts of philanthropy.
Imagine a world where older adults age with dignity and have an improved quality of life through economic security, legal resolutions and much-needed peace of mind.
Help make it a reality.