LETTERS to the editor
(BACK)

“Why We Give” – National Philanthropy Day

In an effort to bring attention to and focus on the significant assistance individuals give to community-based organizations, National Philanthropy Day was instituted by the Association of Fundraising Professionals to be held each year on Nov. 15. This special day is set aside to recognize individuals who donate their financial resources for the enrichment of the community and the world in which we live.

According to Charity Navigator, an online resource guide to giving, “w ithout charities and nonprofits, America would simply not be able to operate.” Charity Navigator ( http://www.charitynavigator.org ) provides a number of interesting statistics regarding charitable giving as documented by Giving USA 2006, the Annual Report on Philanthropy.

• Total giving to charitable organizations increased to $260.3 billion in 2005, an increase of 2.7 percent from 2004 (when adjusted for inflation).
• The majority of giving in 2005 came from individuals, $199.1 billion (76.5 percent), an increase of 2.9 percent from 2004 (when adjusted for inflation).
• Of the $15 billion increase in total giving, approximately half ($7.4 billion) was donated to provide relief after one of three major natural disasters--the tsunami in southern Asia, the Gulf Coast hurricanes and the Pakistan earthquake.
• The second largest sector of giving was education, with contributions totaling $38.6 billion.

Whether giving locally, nationally or internationally, the bottom line is that philanthropic giving enables nonprofit organizations to assist others. At Lord Fairfax Community College (LFCC), the LFCC Educational Foundation, like other nonprofit organizations, would not be able to change the lives of the individuals it serves without the generous donations and financial support of the citizens of the Commonwealth.

Support of the LFCC Educational Foundation means that:

• a financially-struggling student can follow her dream of becoming a teacher, thus preparing her to one day instruct children in the community
• a nursing student will learn life-saving skills on a patient simulator, thus preparing him to better care for area residents
• a student pursuing a degree in information technology will learn from professors trained in the latest cutting-edge technology, thus preparing her to further the technology infrastructure of the area

To everyone who contributes to the Lord Fairfax Community College Educational Foundation or any other nonprofit organization in the area, thank you! Thank you for seeing the potential in others. Thank you for helping to make our community a better place to live!

Anne C. Hall
Chair, Lord Fairfax Community College Educational Foundation Inc.
Real Estate Broker, Long and Foster Realtors