When I was asked to write a couple of paragraphs this month about "Why I Give," I immediately thought of my beloved Great Grandmother Florence who inspired this characteristic in me. Let me explain. As a boychik, this sage of a lady used to spin amazing stories about her childhood growing up in Latvia near the Baltics. Usually these stories were allegorical and didactic in nature, and there is one I remember in particular despite the hodge-podge of English, Latvian, and Yiddish that jarbled from her mouth.

Her Father, my Great Great Grandfather was a blacksmith by trade who lived near the capital of Riga. Although he barely could support a family of 8, he still managed to muster enough rubles ("Russian Shekels") together to give to poorer families that lived nearby. When those that he serviced weren't able to pay him, he would often tell them to bake him a pie or deliver a dozen eggs instead as a good faith gesture. He never expected the pie or eggs would be delivered to him - most of the times they in fact weren't. However, all throughout his life he displayed altruism and willingness to "tikkun olam" through his mitzvah's. While he wasn't a religious man and probably didn't donate to his temple, he helped enhance his overall community through money, time, and kindness. Most importantly, he instilled this legacy of giving in his eight kids.

Consequently, when my Great Grandmother Florence came to the United States through Ellis Island in the early 1900's, she followed this legacy of giving with a passion. Settling in Philadelphia's "Strawberry Mansion," which served as a cruel joke to those that lived in this hard-scrabble Jewish Ghetto, she gave through volunteerism to the Philadelphia Longshoremen Association, Women's Action Groups, and her Temple which she helped build. To this day, while my immediate family is not comprised of incredibly observant Jews, our religion is one of Giving. Why do I give? Is it because of the selfish empowerment I feel in helping those less fortunate? Is it because of my cosmic belief in Karma? Is it because I want to leave the world in a better place than I found it? I don't specifically know why and the answer may be a resounding yes to all of these seemingly contrived answers. I always have and I probably always will give. It courses through my blood and I would suppose is as much a part of my DNA now as my other crazy genetic predispositions.

In my introspection about "why I give," it's impossible not to open up a philosophical can of worms about the act of giving in America, or lack there of recently. One can examine this dichotomy in reading Putnams "Bowling Alone," which is an examination of American's precipitous downward trend since the 1950's of engaging in civic groups, philanthropies, and non-profits. True - it is ingrained in the American character to believe we are the hope of the world, and the sheer number of charities in the East Bay alone are proof of this. However, much cynicism and dispassion about the true mission of many charities and giving is also ingrained in the American character. Anyone that has volunteered for Super Sunday becomes quickly aware of some of the cynicism that even exists amongst Jews in the community that can afford to give but don't. Why is this?

Perhaps the act of giving or lack there of is a product of the religious, economic, social, and political environment of each donor and non-donor. Perhaps people are tired of being inundated with enough "junk-mail" to build a small tree-house. Perhaps folks are cynical about the Orwellian tactics many charities use in identifying donor wealth, and angry about being solicited while trying to watch Sanjaya win "American Idol." Perhaps, we're all just an apathetic bunch. Is there a solution?

I believe that charitable organizations ought to try to engage donors through personal communication and education, rather than strictly mass marketing and droned branding. I believe charitable organizations ought to concentrate more on fulfilling and communicating their mission and less on slick fundraising initiatives if they are able to survive. Having spent a couple of months serving on the Board of the Young Leadership Division, I am proud to say that we're going to be successful in recruiting and building future leaders of the Jewish community not because of one fly-by-night campaign effort, but because we have a strong core of leaders dedicated to conveying our mission clearly and succinctly to young Jews in the community.

I'm sure my reasons for giving will morph and change over time as I grow older, build a family of my own, and further identify what values (political, social, cultural) are the most important to me. However, perhaps I really give because of one reason. She would be 112 today.