#HOPE – Helping Other People Everyday
“Out of the Mountain of Despair,
a Stone of Hope”
Dr. Martin L. King Jr.
The Los Angeles South Chamber of Commerce HOPE Foundation represents a Stone of Hope in the communities we serve. As an organization that represent corporations, government agencies, small businesses, entrepreneurs, community stakeholders, and non-profit organizations, we provide economic solutions through local employment, community resources, and financial literacy programs.
So many of us strive so hard for material success that you might think there was a clear relationship between wealth and happiness. The media and our governments encourage us to believe this, since they need us to keep earning and spending to boost economic growth. From grade school onward, we’re taught that success, long term well-being stems from achievement, economic prosperity, and accumulating more and more material stuff.
Consequently, it comes as a shock for many people to learn that there is no straightforward relationship between wealth and well-being. Once our basic material needs are satisfied (i.e. once we’re assured of regular food and adequate shelter and a basic degree of financial security), wealth only has a negligible effect on well-being.
Happiness comes from giving and helping others
Studies has shown that there is a relationship between non-materialism and well-being. While possessing wealth and material goods doesn’t always lead to happiness, giving them away actually does.
HOPE is Priceless!
Generosity is strongly associated with well-being.
People who practice volunteering has a better psychological and mental health position in their lives. The benefits of volunteering have been found to be greater than taking up exercise, or attending religious services. In fact, even greater than giving up smoking.
For example, take the case of The Giving Pledge, started by Warren Buffet (Founder & CEO of Berkshire Hathaway) and Bill Gates (Microsoft Founder). The Giving Pledge is a commitment by the worlds’s wealthiest individuals and families to dedicate the majority of their wealth to giving back.
Buffet made a pledge in 2006 to give away 99% of his fortune to charity.
“Were we to use more than 1% of my claim checks (Berkshire Hathaway stock certificates) on ourselves, neither our happiness nor our well-being would be enhanced. In contrast, that remaining 99% can have a huge effect on the health and welfare of others.”
Buffet goes on to say;
“My family and I will give up nothing we need or want by
fulfilling this 99% pledge. Moreover, this pledge does not
leave me contributing the most precious asset, which is time.”
The Giving Pledge is a simple concept: an open invitation for billionaires, or those who would be if not for their giving, to publicly commit to giving the majority of their wealth to philanthropy. It is inspired by the example set by millions of people at all income levels who give generously – and often at great personal sacrifice – to make the world better. Envisioned as a multi-generational effort, the Giving Pledge aims over time to help shift the social norms of philanthropy among the world’s wealthiest people and inspire people to give more, establish their giving plans sooner, and give in smarter ways.
“This is about building on a wonderful tradition of philanthropy that will ultimately help the world become a much better place.” – Bill Gates
Another study found that, when people were given a sum of money, they gained more well-being if they spent it on other people, or gave it away, rather than spending it on themselves. This sense of well-being is more than just feeling good about ourselves, it comes from a powerful sense of connection to others, an empathetic and compassionate transcendence of separateness, and of our own self-centered behavior.
So if you really want to enhance your well-being, and as long as your basic material needs are satisfied, don’t try to accumulate more money in your bank account, and don’t treat yourself to more material goods you don’t really need. Be more generous and altruistic, increase the amount of money you give to people in need, give more of your time to volunteering, spend more time helping other people everyday, and be more kind to everyone around you.
The L.A. South Chamber HOPE Foundation creates platforms to build and sustain South Los Angeles communities.
Dexter McLeodPresident/CEO
Los Angeles South Chamber of Commerce (LASCC)
Source: Wakeup-world.com
Learn more about “The Giving Pledge”
at https://www.givingpledge.org/
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