Donating To Myself

Once a year I officially donate money. I write two checks, one to my high school and one to my university. I fill out the insert that comes in the school newsletter and return it with a check in the pre-stamped envelopes. I get mailings from my high school and university monthly asking me for some of my hard-earned cash (and in case you didn't know, this is a non-paying gig) and every month other than July, I chuck the envelope.

In case you're wondering, I chose July to be my marked-donation month because when I graduated, I thought July would be a slow month in academia and that my donation would be more appreciated if it arrived then. I'm so thoughtful.

It wasn't until this month, however, that I thought I'd break the streak and donate to a new cause altogether, leaving my schools out of it. This July, I wrote a check to myself.

I know what you're thinking: but what about cancer research? And disaster relief? And clean-water? Those are all, as are many others, more than worthy causes to donate to. I, for one, usually chose to give to my schools because they're honorable and highly respected institutions that teach and inspire future scientists, ambassadors, and environmentalists. We are nothing without schooling, so I decided long ago to contribute to the process of creating solutions, as opposed to giving to the direct problem.

Anyway, my high school has an endowment of about $55 million, my university is over the $1 billion mark, and if I do the math correctly, that's about a gazillion times more than I can wrap my head (or my pennies) around. So this year I wondered: Does my small donation make a difference? Does it get that spackling finished around the new science building windows? Or get the lacrosse team new skirts? No, I realized, of course not. I contribute to the pot that collects interest which will then pay for the new things, or not. But I feel like it's a worthy cause; both schools introduced me to wonderful professors, ideas, and hobbies, and frankly, I feel pretty good about thanking them each year with a measly $100 annual check.

This year though, I thought I'd thank them by getting a bigger return on my investment; after all, there are two "I's" in "Giving."

I'm not a frivolous person when it comes to spending. I don't own designer clothes or handbags, nor do I want to. I make enough that I'm able to save a little while enjoying living in NYC and staying on top of my monthly bills, which, I'll point out again, do not support any shoe fetishes, or expensive haircuts, or any other pitfalls that lure a person from financial responsibility to financial liability. But this year as the nation's and my purse strings tighten, giving to an alma mater becomes harder.

I've always wanted to go to Costa Rica--the rainforest, the beaches, the eco-lodges, the food, the language, the atmosphere, it all just synchs with me. I was invited by my older sister and her friend to join them for a week's trip down there starting August 7th, and I couldn't resist. Both high school and college instilled in me a strong desire to see the world and learn from and about different cultures. Having never been to Central America and having ample vacation days, I booked a ticket. The $200 that'd been slated for my schools was turned over to pay for a trip school would have wanted me to take. Justification? Maybe. But I can also practice my Spanish while there, so double points, muchas gracias.

At first I felt a little guilty about my decision, but I've come to the conclusion if we all gave ourselves a little donation to expand our horizons, to explore a foreign country, our parts would add up to the sum of a greater, more tolerant and understanding whole. And then we could give each ourselves a pat on the back.

Comments

[ALW620]

Um- I donate to myself everyday! And ironically enough- have been saving up for a Costa Rica trip myself- new years baby... Congrats on the sizeable donation that was recently made in your name! ;)

[Jonahson]

Helping others to help ourselves.