The
admirable deed of charity is highly praised by
every religion. Even people
with no religion at all recognize generosity
as a highly regarded quality. It is very interesting
to read the following quotes which are from different
religions from around the world:
“And if thy brother be waxen poor, and
his means fail with thee; then thou shalt uphold
him: as a stranger and a settler shall he live
with thee.” – Judaism
/ Leviticus 25:35
“Give to him who begs from you, and
do not refuse him who would borrow from you.”
– Christianity
/ Matthew 5:42
“They feed with food the needy wretch,
the orphan, and the prisoner, for love of Him,
saying, 'we wish for no reward nor thanks from
you’.”
– Islam
/ Qur'an 76.8-9
“One should always speak the truth,
not yield to anger, and give, even though it
be little, to the person who begs. By these three
virtues, a man is able to come into the presence
of the devas.”
– Buddhism
/ Dhammapada 224
“Let the rich man satisfies one who
seeks help; and let him look upon the long view:
For wealth revolves like the wheels of a chariot,
coming now to one, now to another.”
– Hinduism
/ Rig Veda 10.117.1-6
“Charity - to be moved at the sight
of the thirsty, the hungry, and the miserable
and to offer relief to them out of pity -- is
the spring of virtue.”
–Jainism
/ Kundakunda, Pancastikaya 137
“Relieve people in distress as speedily
as you must release a fish from a dry rill [lest
he die]. Deliver people from danger as quickly
as you must free a sparrow from a tight noose. Be
compassionate to orphans and relieve widows. Respect
the old and help the poor.”
– Taoism
/ Tract of the Quiet Way
“See to it that whoever enters your
house obtains something to eat, however little
you may have. Such food will be a source
of death to you if you withhold it.”
– Native
American Religions / a Winnebago Father's precept
“Not having enough of anything can cause
one to become a miser.”
– African
Traditional Religions / Yoruba proverb ( Nigeria )
The desire to possess is a
natural, inborn urge. It is not in itself a bad
thing. It is the basis of self-preservation. It
leads parents to provide homes, food, clothing
and other needs for their children. It also leads
people to provide goods and services for each other.
Generosity requires a struggle against the inborn
tendency to be selfish. The
essence of true charity is to give something without
expecting anything in return for the gift. Those who have enough to
maintain themselves should think of others and
extend their generosity to deserving cases.
It is
a great accomplishment to make it a habit to
donate to a philanthropy organization whenever
it is financially possible. These organizations are a lot more experienced
and flexible than us in delivering help to whoever
needs it. The internet is full of information and
listing of hundreds of charity organization all
over the world. The following
is a short list of web sites that will help you make
an informed decision,
but do not hesitate to visit the Yahoo
Directory for even more resources on philanthropy:
Charity Navigator analyzes and rates financial
health and efficiency of charities and non-profits
in the United States . There is detailed information
on over four thousand charities.
Just Give provides people with the resources
and tools to donate money, time, or goods to thousands
of charities. Visitors can browse for charity organizations
by category.
In case you are intimidated by the
abundance of information on the internet or do not
have much time for searching, the
following philanthropy organizations are some of
the largest and oldest in the world:
After World War II, European children face famine
and disease. UNICEF is created in December 1946 by
the United Nations to provide food, clothing and
health care to them.
Doctors Without Borders (also known as Médecins
Sans Frontières) was founded in 1971 by a
small group of French doctors who believed that all
people have the right to medical care and that the
needs of these people supercede respect for national
borders. Doctors Without Borders delivers emergency
aid to victims of armed conflict, epidemics, and
natural and man-made disasters, and to others who
lack health care due to social or geographical isolation.
First organized in 1881 by Clara Barton, the American
Red Cross, a humanitarian organization led by volunteers
and people, guided by its Congressional Charter and
the Fundamental Principles of the International Red
Cross Movement, provides relief to victims of disasters
and helps people prevent, prepare for, and respond
to emergencies. The Red Cross is committed to saving
lives and easing suffering.
Founded in 1970, Africare has become a leader among
private, charitable U.S. organizations assisting
Africa . It is the oldest and largest African-American
organization in the field.
Founded in 1982, AIDS Foundation Houston (AFH)
works in collaboration with other AIDS service organizations
and non-AIDS related community-based groups to reduce
the incidence of HIV/AIDS infection and to support
people living with HIV/AIDS.
The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, founded
in 1993 by Evelyn H. Lauder, works to achieve prevention
and a cure for breast cancer in our lifetime by providing
critical funding for innovative clinical and genetic
research at leading medical centers worldwide, and
increasing public awareness about good breast health.
To date, the Foundation has raised over $100 million
to support outstanding breast cancer research around
the world.
Action Against Hunger is an international organization
that was created in Paris in 1979 and is comprised
of an interdependent international network. AAH works
to save lives by combating hunger, malnutrition,
physical suffering and the associated distress that
endanger the lives of children, women, and men in
emergency situations of war, conflict, and natural
disaster.
Action Aid is an international development agency
whose aim is to fight poverty worldwide. Formed in
1972, for over 30 years they have been growing and
expanding in helping over 13 million of the world's
poorest and most disadvantaged people in 42 countries
worldwide.
CARE is one of the world's leading humanitarian
organizations fighting global poverty. Founded in
1945 to provide relief to survivors of World War
II, CARE quickly became a trusted vehicle for the
compassion and generosity of millions.
WFP, the United Nations frontline hunger relief agency,
became operational in 1963 and is now the world's largest
international food aid organization. In 2002, WFP helped
feed 72 million people in 82 countries.
