The Benefits of Being a "Do Gooder"

Photo courtesy of www.flickr.com by USAG- Humphreys taken on May 5, 2012

I would have loved to have met Matel Dawson Jr.  He was a humble man from Michigan with only a 9th grade education. He worked for 61 years as a forklift driver for Ford Motor Company until his retirement at age 81. He passed away a few short months later.

He could have retired years before and lived comfortably but instead he chose to continue working 12-hour days six or seven days a week so that he could donate the money to charity.

”I need money to make me happy,” he said in an interview in 1998 with Jet magazine. ”It makes me happy to give money away. It gives me a good feeling.”

Dawson said that he did it because he was raised to work hard, live simply, save money and help others and he liked doing it. It helped him to sleep well at night.

Dawson was never paid more than $26 per hour, but earned up to $100,000 yearly with all of his overtime. He lived in a small one-bedroom apartment and drove a 1995 Escort.

Most of his donations were to scholarship funds, and totaled more than $1.3 million!

Upon his death, this New York Times article celebrated his philanthropic life.

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/13/us/matel-dawson-jr-81-is-dead-philanthropic-auto-worker.html

Mr. Dawson’s life teaches us that everyone can dedicate a percentage of time and income to help others, and commit to a lifetime of giving. You might ask how and why?

There are so many EASY ways to be a “Do Gooder”

Start small and “Do Good” near home. I call it “Give Where You Live”. Of course, help your family first. Strive to be self-sufficient, so you can be one who helps instead of one who needs help. One individual can have a great impact in their neighborhood. Find a neighbor in need. Think about your talents and how they might benefit your community. If you love sports, help coach a little league team. If you’re a singer, perform for your local retirement home. If you’re a math whiz, tutor or mentor a child. Seek out local charity events where you can lend a hand. Some other ideas are to: donate lightly used household items to local shelters, volunteer at local schools & hospitals, give blood, or serve food to homeless over the holidays.

Once you start helping, you’ll be motivated to do more. You can find ways to “Do Good” in the world. Extend your reach by partnering with other people. There is power in numbers. If one person can make a difference, imagine what a group can do! Invite your family and friends to join you. Align yourself with charitable organizations that have even more resources to help those in need. Social networking can be a powerful tool to organize and promote all your Good Deeds.

If you want to be like Matel Dawson, you can also make charitable monetary donations. Donated funds enable you to help when you can’t be there yourself. Your gift allows others to “Do More Good” on your behalf.

The following resource articles detail how to choose a charitable cause and exactly what’s in it for you. It’s all about how to “Do Good” and make a difference in the world for your own benefit.

The Facts About Choosing a Charity

http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=content.view&cpid=419

Charity Navigator lists the top 10 best practices of savvy donors. They encourage a proactive approach (and not reactive) in selecting an organization. 501(c)(3) status should be confirmed and transparency helps ensure ethical activities. Obtaining copies of financial records provide insight into efficiency and whether they meet minimum standards. Lastly, don’t be afraid to concentrate your support with a long-term commitment based on your passions and research. Be smart and do your homework before committing your time and money to a charity.

What We Get When We Give

http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/raising_happiness/post/what_we_get_when_we_give

Christine Carter, PhD, asks “If you do a nice thing for someone else knowing you’ll reap some benefit yourself, is it still a good deed?” Her research on the benefits of giving is powerful.

“Did you know that kinder people actually live longer, healthier lives? People who volunteer tend to experience fewer aches and pains. Giving help to others protects overall health twice as much as aspirin protects against heart disease. People 55 and older who volunteer for two or more organizations have an impressive 44 percent lower likelihood of dying—and that’s after sifting out every other contributing factor, including physical health, exercise, gender, habits like smoking, marital status, and many more. This is a stronger effect than exercising four times a week or going to church; it means that volunteering is nearly as beneficial to our health as quitting smoking!”

Ancient Egyptians believed that after they died they would be asked two questions. Their journey in the afterlife depended on how they answered. The first question: Did you bring joy? The second: Did you find joy?

Based on what we’ve just learned, our answers could be YES to both. We found joy by bringing joy to others!