‘Tis getting ready to be the season. At this time, and at almost any other time, I think about philanthropy, and how important giving is to the success of Liberty Wildlife and our mission. In fact, it is critical.

I once had an opportunity to talk to one of our donors about her giving. I was interested in why she felt the urge to give…what did it mean to her and how did she decide to do it. Her response made a lot of sense and started my eon’s long search for how to duplicate that education process in others. Giving by others is the life-blood of a non-profit organization’s existence.

Her response was that she learned “philanthropy from her parents.” Giving was the natural order of things in her home, and the desire to help others was as natural as breathing…second nature. She explained that she had married a man who grew up very differently and that teaching him the value of giving was more difficult…sort of like the old dog and new tricks.

Interesting.

Sometime later l spoke with a father who had brought his young son to one of our events. He explained that he gave his son an allowance with the caveat that one-third would go to something he wanted for himself, one-third went into savings that he would use later when needed, and one-third was to go to a charity that he believed in. Fortunately, for Liberty Wildlife, we were something that he valued and wanted to help.

My feeling was that his little donation was the beginning of a lifetime of philanthropy. YES!

This was a great example of what my philanthropic friend was talking about! It made me think a little farther down the line to the whole issue of gift giving. We all have so much. But, do we really need so much. Maybe we could translate the “giving lesson” to our gift giving practices. Think about it…..

We are so grateful at Liberty Wildlife for all that we have because of the generous giving of our benefactors, large and small. It is generous giving that has made it possible this year to add updated and improved enclosures for our educational animals and to add facilities in which to improve their training practices. It has allowed us to increase the number of animals that we care for during our amazingly busy orphan season. It is this giving that has allowed us to purchase needed medical materials to better do our jobs.

We have also been able to find purpose and meaning when an animal passes. Through our Non-Eagle Feather Repository, we have been able to increase exponentially the number of Native Americans who have been able to receive the needed feathers and bird parts that allow them to continue to connect to their cultural and religious practices. This in turn has had life changing impacts on the lives of many people, and wild animals that might otherwise have been illegally hunted.

We are also able to help the tens of thousands of local residents, just like you, who have needed assistance in caring for the injured, ill and orphaned animals that you found and brought to us for care. We feel that it is important to acknowledge the very compassionate human who goes to the trouble to assist an animal in need. Thank you!

The need is always there. The solution might just be in your hands. Think about the third compartment of your own piggy bank… what you might give to a charity you believe in. And, think about the lives of your wildlife neighbors.

We thank you for the part you play and hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving.