GiveBIG

“GiveBIG” says my inbox on this annual day where every donation dollar to Puget Sound charities is doubled by the Seattle Foundation. Doubling is good, tripling is even better. My employer, PayPal, will take care of that. I was recently asked how to motivate people to maintain, let alone increase their charitable giving with the elimination of tax benefits. I’ll answer that with another gift I’ll make today to a charity that is not based in Washington but that lives close to my heart. You see, the world lost a wonderful woman this week, one that I’m blessed to have called friend. The disease that robbed Gretchen of her prime won’t be fought entirely by private funding and decreasingly by government funding. I’ve watched what happens when those funds dry up. The labs shut down. Researchers lose their jobs. The work stops.

My giving is motivated by my heart and each little victory won on an arduous journey taken by those who won’t stop seeking the solutions we insist on making a reality. If my incessant peddling or pedaling inspires you to pitch in, I am blessed. Every dollar donated is a gift and the rewards go far beyond a tax break. To someone, our rewards are priceless.