September 15, 2017
The Philanthropic Trends Digest
A Publication of Lawson Associates, Inc.
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Doug  
Douglas M. Lawson, Ph.D.
Founder/President
Dallas, TX

214.499.1939
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Pam Carpenter

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Dallas, TX 

214.676.6229

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Dallas, TX
214.616.2362

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  Edward M. Ridout
Roanoke, VA and
Washington, DC  540.797.9966
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Featured Associates:

Rod Brown 2
 Rod Brown

Dallas, TX  

412.418.7156

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  Dr. Raymond A. Craig
Lake Wylie, SC 
843.489.2010
 

  Steve Duffy
Lincoln, NM 
  

 Jane Jordan

Jacksonville, FL 
904.434.1431
 
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Dear Friend:

In a recent issue of Time, Susanna Schrobsdorff calls our attention to the real truth found for all of us in the recent hurricanes in Texas and Florida: It Takes A Disaster to Remind Us of Our Common Humanity.

Amid the heartache and pain, people of all races, creeds, sexes and ethnicity, came to the rescue of others not caring whom these people voted for or about tax reform or whether they were for or against removing Confederate statues.  As fellow humans they just helped total strangers, and in many cases these helpers were from other states.

This natural empathy for others is "hardwired" into us according to Dr. James Doty, who as a neurosurgeon founded Stanford University's Center for compassion and Altruism Research and Education.  In his research he has found that when we take care of each other, the pleasure centers of our brains light up.  In his words, "Altruism is not only a benefit to others, but it benefits us in terms of our health and longevity".

In my book, More Give To Live, I noted some years ago these same truths pointed out by Dr. Doty.  Giving of ourselves to others is what altruism or philanthropy is all about.  Maybe, just maybe, these disasters will be the catalyst to bring us as a nation back together again.

Sincerely,
 
Douglas M. Lawson, Ph.D.

Susanna Schrobsdorff, "It Takes A Disaster To Remind Us of Our Common Humanity", Time, August 18, 2017, p. 115. 
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"The raising of extraordinarily large sums of money, given voluntarily and freely by millions of our fellow Americans, is a unique American tradition... Philanthropy, charity, giving voluntarily and freely... call it what you like, but it is truly a jewel of an American tradition." - - John Kennedy
BEHOLD A TRUE HUMANITARIAN IN TEXAS J.J. WATT -
Athletes have come together in the wake of Hurricane Harvey to help generate millions of dollars for those affected and recovering from the devastating storm.  For J.J. Watt, there has been an incredible amount of success in an endeavor to use his fame to help others.  In less than four days, the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year has raised millions and counting for hurricane-damaged Houston.   It's not just the money he is managing to raise.   He's also in on every detail of what's being done with it, from where to get trucks to what supplies to buy to where distribution centers will be, to ensure that all of this money benefits the people who need it.   "I'm not going to be perfect at this, I can promise you, because it's happening on the fly and I've never done anything like this," Watt said.  "But I'm doing everything I can and we're going to make it as good as we possibly can." Additionally, Watt said, "There are so many people out there that want to help, we just needed somebody to organize it. I'm just very glad that I could use my platform to help." - - Nancy Armour, USA TODAY, September 1, 2017.  Read more. 
HOUSTON LOVES BIG BUSINESS. HOW MUCH SHOULD BIG BUSINESS NOW LOVE IT BACK? - - Disaster relief isn't just a private sector project. But big businesses can often play a useful role.   Even before the damage from Hurricane Harvey is tallied, big corporations are opening their checkbooks.  Chevron, with several offices in the Houston area, pledged $1 million to post-Harvey disaster relief efforts.  So did Exxon Mobil and Dow Chemical, two companies with facilities hit by the storm. Companies in less regional industries also donated: Amazon offered to match $1 million in donations to the American Red Cross, while Verizon promised $10 million.  Walmart, which took a front-line role in the clean-up after Hurricane Katrina, sent truckloads of emergency supplies to the affected area. In all, corporations have pledged more than $65 million to help clean up the wreckage from Harvey, according to an early estimate by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.  That is an impressive figure, and a sign that corporations are capable of stepping up in a crisis.  Ben Means, a law professor at the University of South Carolina who studies corporate governance, has said, "If those corporations stick around more than they would have otherwise.  That will tell us that these investments in attracting businesses are worthwhile." - - Kevin Roose, The New York Times, September 1, 2017.  Read more. 
A DIFFERENT KIND OF VOLUNTEER WORK - - As a research and development engineer at General Mills Inc., Madison Barre spends most of her work days developing products for the Minneapolis based food company. She also devotes many hours doing pro-bono work for small food companies in Africa.
The 27-year-old Ms. Barre has shared tips on how to reduce contamination risk when handling raw ingredients and has offered guidance on subjects such as organizational management. While corporate volunteer programs are nothing new, employees have long taken part in things such as food drives and home building projects that allow workers to donate their professional expertise are different and growing.   More than one million hours of pro-bono work were performed last year, up from 492,305 hours in 2013.  The rise coincides with growth in the number of employers sponsoring pro-bono service programs.  "Increasingly, employees don't just want to paint fences," says Carmen Perez, CECP's director of data insights.  "They want to use their skills...to solve a societal challenge." - - Neil Parmar, The Wall Street Journal, September 10, 2017.  Read more. 
UT REGENT DONATES $25 MILLION TO SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK TO ALLEVIATE STUDENTS' DEBT BECAUSE 'THEY'RE HEROES' - - University of Texas Regent Steve Hicks is donating $25 million to the University of Texas at Austin's School of Social Work, in part to help cut the debt of students whom he calls "heroes."  Hicks, a businessman with a UT government degree, doesn't have a background in social work, but he said he's always been focused on supporting institutions and causes that directly help people.  He settled on the school after studying where he felt he could make the most difference.  "I think we have a great society, but in every social system, parts of it break from time to time and the social workers are there to pick up the pieces, whether in the hospitals or recovery centers, assisted living facilities and the prisons," Hicks said.  "It's not the most glamorous of jobs.  I don't know that I could do it myself, but I have deep admiration for those who can."   The gift, announced publicly Wednesday, is believed to be among the largest ever to a public university's social work school, according to UT.  Hicks works closely with several addiction recovery programs, because it's a personal issue for him as he has battled alcoholism, which runs in his family.  Hicks also hopes the contribution will serve as a sign of appreciation to social workers whose selfless deeds often go unrecognized. - - Liz Farmer, The Dallas Morning News, September 7, 2017.  Read more. 

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