The surprising value of charity

By Michele Goodrich

While stuck in construction traffic the other day, I saw a billboard that really caught my attention.  There in the midst of signs promoting fast food restaurants, financial services and half-price fireworks, was one celebrating the value of charity.

The billboard’s message reminded me that as fundraisers and not-for-profit professionals, we don’t just raise money to support our causes, we also teach and model very important values such as caring, compassion and charity.   By holding up examples of everyday people who reach out to help others, we let people know that everyone can make a difference. It is especially important that we provide youth with opportunities to put into practice the value of charity, so that they can make it a way of life long into the future.

A note about the billboard: It is sponsored by the Foundation for a Better Life.  The story behind the billboard is that every Tuesday and Thursday for the last 30 years, Albert Lexie has left his home at 5:50am to travel 90 minutes by bus to the Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh, so he can shine shoes in the hospital’s lobby.  He uses the very same shoeshine box he built in high school shop class when he was only 15 years old.  Albert charges $3 per shine and donates all his tips to the Children’s Free Care Fund, which ensures that all children receive medical care regardless of a family’s financial ability to pay for it.

Since 1981, Albert has donated over $100,000 of his hard-earned tips to the Children’s Hospital. His annual income is only about $10,000 and he donates approximately $10,000 a year to the hospital.

To see more inspirational billboards, TV commercials and much more, go to values.com.

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