Cyber Monday and Giving Tuesday

Well, well, well friends, how is it going?

Did you go all out on Cyber Monday getting gifts for family and friends (and ahem, yourself) online?  As it turns out, I did not buy ANYTHING on Cyber Monday.  

Now, let you get the impression that I am an anti-commercial purest, nothing could be further from the truth.  As an MBA, I am a "card carrying capitalist" and understand that personal spending by individuals and families does the majority of the work in moving the economy in the US in positive directions (hence the need for the Congress to prime the pump with relief checks, extended unemployment income payments , etc).  No, the fact of the matter is I just don't need anything.  (Thank God!)

But Giving Tuesday?  That's a whole other matter.  From the role model of my parents, the teachings of my church, the reinforcement of "Love thy neighbor as thyself" from the college I went to, I am committed to making a difference in our world even if it is only through small donations to worthy causes.

So, while I took naps yesterday, today I was up early and made four targeted donations.  Who did I give to and why?  Here is the line up:

1.  The UC Davis Violence Prevention Program:  I have given to them over the years as their leader is Garen Wintemute, MD, MPH who does out of sight powerful research on violence prevention.  I don't really need to explain the need to reduce violence in this country, do I?  You can join me and give here: https://health.ucdavis.edu/vprp/
2. The Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health:  This is a TERRIFIC organization led by a very capable leader (Laura Magaña, PhD) that does fabulous work supporting public health education in our country…. which is so desperately needed as we struggle to deal with a pandemic.https://www.aspph.org/donate-form/
3. Secord Harvest Food Bank:  They do great work in the Bay Area and copied the Sacramento Thanksgiving Fun Run to Feed the Hungry and offered a 3X donation match so I went for it! https://impact.shfb.org/campaign/giving-tuesday/c314259.
4. Gardner Community Health Center in San Jose.  This is a community health center that does everything it is supposed to do in serving the underserved and un/under-insured and is where I have gotten (and publicized) the CV test….. no charge, no appointment, fast results.  So I made a donation out of gratitude for their testing for me and my Mom and appreciation for their work providing full spectrum primary care to THOUSANDS of people over the years. Reymundo Espinoza, MPH is their leader along with their Board of Directors. https://gardnerhealthservices.org/donate/

My donations went in memory of family members including Matthew, Matthew, Ty, and Bob.

You can give to these organizations (that's why i included the link) or your can give to your own favorite charity.  But please do give, even a little, little amount, because it will help spur a spirit of healing, a common basis of love for all Americans and caring for our neighbors as we head into a "dark winter" with this Coronavirus thing.

As they say, "It is in giving that we receive"!  

Regards,

John

PS  I am going to check the bank account later and see if I can afford a little bit for Yolo Hospice.  The guys in my Men's Spirituality group yesterday were extolling the virtues and wonderful service of this local organization, so I might see if I can help!