I read recently in The Little Book of Gold by Erik Hanberg, “Philanthropy is based on voluntary action for the common good.” The mission of the Service League of Cherokee County resonates with a lot of our community because we help those who are young, vulnerable, and in most cases, unable to control their situation. Everything we do in casework, scholarships, Christmas Families program, and more is geared toward the common good of the children in our county. Through their voluntary action for the common good, our donors empower us to do our mission.
Donors are essential to any nonprofit. The pandemic of 2020 is a perfect example of why. Our in-person fundraisers were postponed or canceled; however, not only did the needs continue, but they also increased as businesses closed, and families lost their incomes. While financially, the League was capable of continuing the mission of helping children in need, it looked like we would be dipping into our reserve funds as the shut-down continued to drag on.
The League is blessed with wonderful donors who continued to ensure our mission endured through the pandemic. We received donations of all sizes as individuals and foundations took action for the common good of the community’s children.
Every donation, whether $5 or $5000, is very much appreciated and important to our mission. Large donations can have a significant effect, and small donations can be combined to also have a substantial impact. If you are comfortable giving $5, we can combine that with other $5 donations to feed breakfast to a child, purchase eyeglasses, or fulfill many other needs.
One of our League’s past presidents always told a story about a young child who walked along the beach picking up starfish the tide washed onto shore and tossing them back into the water. An old man looked at the miles of beach and said to the child, “There are more starfish than you can ever save. You cannot make a difference.” The child picked up another starfish and sent it back into the ocean and said to the man, “I can make a difference to this one.”*
All of our donors make a difference in children’s lives. We simply cannot thank all our donors enough. The voluntary action of many individuals, corporations, and foundations that support our cause are making a difference to individuals in our home community.
*Summarized from The Star Thrower by Loren Eiseley
