Kindness and Wonder
Kindness and Wonder

Author: Gavin Edwards

Publisher: HarperCollins

Published: 2019-10-29

Total Pages: 252

ISBN-13: 0062950754

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A pop culture celebration of Fred Rogers and the enduring legacy of his beloved, award-winning PBS show Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood that offers essential wisdom to help us in our troubled times. Won’t you be my neighbor? For more than thirty years, Fred Rogers was a beloved fixture in American homes. Warm and welcoming, he spoke directly to children—and their parents—about the marvels of the world, the things that worried them, and above all, the importance of being themselves. Dressed in his cardigan and sneakers, Fred Rogers offered a wholesome message of generosity and love that changed the landscape of television and shaped a generation of children. Kindness and Wonder pays tribute to this cultural icon: the unique, gentle man who embodied the best of what we could be. Looking back at the history of the show and the creative visionary behind it, pop culture aficionado Gavin Edwards reminds us of the indelible lessons and insights that Mister Rogers conveyed—what it means to be a good person, to be open-hearted, to be thoughtful, to be curious, to be compassionate—and why they matter. Beautifully crafted, infused with Mister Rogers’ gentle spirit, and featuring dozens of interviews with people whose lives were touched by Fred Rogers—ranging from Rita Moreno to NFL Hall of Famer Lynn Swann—Kindness and Wonder is a love letter to this unforgettable cultural hero and role model, and the beautiful neighborhood he created.

The Paradox of Generosity
The Paradox of Generosity

Author: Christian Smith

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2014-08-01

Total Pages: 281

ISBN-13: 019939492X

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Determining why, when, and to whom people feel compelled to be generous affords invaluable insight into positive and problematic ways of life. Organ donation, volunteering, and the funding of charities can all be illuminated by sociological and psychological perspectives on how American adults conceive of and demonstrate generosity. Focusing not only on financial giving but on the many diverse forms generosity can take, Christian Smith and Hilary Davidson show the deep impact-usually good, sometimes destructive-that giving has on individuals. The Paradox of Generosity is the first study to make use of the cutting-edge empirical data collected in Smith's groundbreaking, multidisciplinary, five-year Science of Generosity Initiative. It draws on an extensive survey of 2,000 Americans, more than sixty in-depth interviews with individuals across twelve states, and analysis of over 1,000 photographs and other visual materials. This wealth of evidence reveals a consistent link between demonstrating generosity and leading a better life: more generous people are happier, suffer fewer illnesses and injuries, live with a greater sense of purpose, and experience less depression. Smith and Davidson also show, however, that to achieve a better life a person must practice generosity regularly-random acts of kindness are not enough. Offering a wide range of vividly illustrative case studies, this volume will be a crucial resource for anyone seeking to understand the true impact and meaning of generosity.

Why Philanthropy Matters
Why Philanthropy Matters

Author: Zoltan Acs

Publisher: Princeton University Press

Published: 2013-02-21

Total Pages: 269

ISBN-13: 1400846811

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The hidden role of philanthropy in enriching America's prosperity—and the world's Philanthropy has long been a distinctive feature of American culture, but its crucial role in the economic well-being of the nation—and the world—has remained largely unexplored. Why Philanthropy Matters takes an in-depth look at philanthropy as an underappreciated force in capitalism, measures its critical influence on the free-market system, and demonstrates how American philanthropy could serve as a model for the productive reinvestment of wealth in other countries. Factoring in philanthropic cycles that help balance the economy, Zoltan Acs offers a richer picture of capitalism, and a more accurate backdrop for considering policies that would promote the capitalist system for the good of all. Examining the dynamics of American-style capitalism since the eighteenth century, Acs argues that philanthropy achieves three critical outcomes. It deals with the question of what to do with wealth—keep it, tax it, or give it away. It complements government in creating public goods. And, by focusing on education, science, and medicine, philanthropy has a positive effect on economic growth and productivity. Acs describes how individuals such as Benjamin Franklin, Andrew Carnegie, Bill Gates, and Oprah Winfrey have used their wealth to establish institutions and promote knowledge, and Acs shows how philanthropy has given an edge to capitalism by promoting vital forces—like university research—necessary for technological innovation, economic equality, and economic security. Philanthropy also serves as a guide for countries with less flexible capitalist institutions, and Acs makes the case for a larger, global philanthropic culture. Providing a new perspective on the development of capitalism, Why Philanthropy Matters highlights philanthropy's critical links to the economic progress, health, and future of the United States—and beyond.

Living Generously
Living Generously

Author: Pauline Wilson

Publisher: Saint Andrew Press

Published: 2024-04-30

Total Pages: 96

ISBN-13: 1800830505

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Living Generously is a new resource from the Church of Scotland to promote a whole-life approach to Christian stewardship. Its holistic approach comes from a perspective of abundance rather than scarcity, and invites readers to reflect on God’s goodness and the resources we have at our disposal, both personally and collectively in our churches. It offers a practical and positive alternative at a time of anxiety about decline. It explores how we recognise and steward gifts in twelve different areas: God • Vision • Relationships • Volunteers • Gifts • Time • Money • Possessions • Generations • Body • Mind • Earth. A range of contributors offers real life examples of the impact of effective and generous stewardship. Reflection and conversation around each theme are facilitated by prompts and discussion starters, making this a practical book for both individual and group engagement.

Generosity Matters
Generosity Matters

Author: Marsha J Villicana

Publisher: Independently Published

Published: 2024-02-07

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13:

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This book offers a thorough introduction to the virtues and applications of generosity in the contemporary world. It looks at the social, psychological, and scientific facets of giving and receiving as well as the ways in which kindness inspires, spreads, and changes lives. It also provides helpful guidance on how to develop generosity and show it in several forms, such as paying attention to others or donating money, as well as how to become involved in the generosity movement that is improving the world. The book asks the reader to picture a society in which philanthropy, the internet, commerce, and interpersonal relationships are all impacted by generosity taking its rightful place. Additionally, it offers advice and illustrations on how to give successfully, as well as how to cultivate a giving attitude and routine. Anyone who wishes to understand more about the virtue and worth of charity as well as how to change the world for the better should read this book.

Generosity
Generosity

Author: Tibor R. Machen

Publisher: Cato Institute

Published: 1998-03-01

Total Pages: 127

ISBN-13: 1937184005

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It is often assumed that because the contemporary welfare state is generous, its critics must therefore lack generosity, as well as compassion. Tibor R. Machan, a distinguished moral philosopher, demonstrates why that is a mistaken notion. He places generosity among the human virtues and shows why virtue requires moral choice rather than coercion. He argues that generosity can only be cultivated in freedom because there is no virtue in a compulsory act. This book is a valuable contribution to an important and continuing debate.

Cultivating Generosity: Giving What’S Right, Not What’S Left
Cultivating Generosity: Giving What’S Right, Not What’S Left

Author: Rem Stokes

Publisher: LifeRich Publishing

Published: 2013-10-23

Total Pages: 193

ISBN-13: 1489700439

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At last! An insightful book about cultivating generosity from a generous lay leader and donor, and not from a professional fundraiser or clergy leader. Rem Stokes alone knows more about the psychology of donorsand has demonstrated that insight over more yearsthan a whole busload of ministers and consultants put together. If you want to understand how to change the culture of your congregation or group in the direction of abundance, not scarcity, this is your guidebook. Rev. John Buehrens, former president of the Unitarian Universalist Association Money pervades all aspects of our lives, but we dare not discuss it for fear of touching the proverbial third rail. The discomfort we experience may be that it reveals more than we want it to. All individuals fear rejection and want acceptance. And money becomes the agent of compensation, the hopium of the masses. But it is a false hope. Money is extrinsic and can only buy external things. Money simply cannot buy the things most worth having. Wherever there is pain or embarrassment, there is essential learning to be done. I believe churches should address the stranglehold that money has on our attitudes. Churches cannot be truly relevant to their members real-life issues without addressing the money dimension that underlies their attitudes and behaviors. You cannot compartmentalize a person into secular and spiritual categories without damaging his wholeness. This book addresses that issue head on. Churches need programs that let money permeate the environment in a wholesome and constructive way. Those programs should help overcome the reluctance to discuss money and cultivate a culture of generosity. This book provides a set of exercises and a rationale for churches to achieve these goals, moving members from self-interest to self-esteem.

Generous Justice
Generous Justice

Author: Timothy Keller

Publisher: Penguin Books

Published: 2012-08-07

Total Pages: 265

ISBN-13: 1594486077

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Keller explores a life of justice empowered by an experience of grace.

Every Gift Matters
Every Gift Matters

Author: Carrie Morgridge

Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group

Published: 2015-05-05

Total Pages: 170

ISBN-13: 1626341834

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Charitable giving is on the rise in America. Despite the lingering effects of the economic downturn, Americans continue to give generously of their time, talent, and money – more than $335 billion in 2013, a 4.4% increase from 2011. What’s more, the bulk of that charitable giving – 72% – came not from large foundations or corporations, but from individuals making small gifts. For those with passion for a cause and a generous spirit, it’s vitally important that they leverage their gift in the right way in order to have the greatest impact possible. In her first book EVERY GIFT MATTERS (Greenleaf; May 2015), Carrie Morgridge shares inspiring stories of powerful gifts in action showing readers how to turn the act of giving into a vehicle for positive change. Drawing on 15 years of experience supporting causes that align with her passions through gifts, Morgridge demonstrates how a smart strategy, high expectations, a deep network, and hands-on personal involvement will ensure that one’s gift is compounded over time to have the biggest impact possible. “Each person and every gift can make a difference,” writes Morgridge. “Whoever you are, no matter how much or how little you have, your gift matters. The smallest, seemingly unimportant, donation can transform a life. And the best news is that giving transforms two lives: the one who receives and the one who gives.” Through her role as Vice President of The Morgridge Family Foundation, Morgridge has learned what works – and what doesn’t – when it comes to giving. She argues that in order to ensure meaningful and lasting change, a gift must be more than simply a grant of money. The giver must assess whether the program is the right fit, work hand-in-hand with the key leaders on strategy, develop a plan for making the endeavor sustainable, and ensure that their gift can be leveraged to have a bigger impact on the community. By sharing real-life stories of how this hands-on approach to giving has transformed lives – including her own – Morgridge inspires others to believe that they can also make a difference in their community, no matter the size of their gift.