Promoting Self-Reliance

When I was growing up, it wasn't uncommon for my family to spend a spare afternoon at the nursing home, where we would visit one of my dad's favorite clients. Dorothy Towne was a kind, warm lady, and we considered her to be a dear family friend. She led a very successful life, and had quite a bit of money and assets to her name. When she passed away she appointed my dad to be the trustee of her estate. In the years since, in accordance with her wishes, my parents have created a thriving charitable foundation that does a lot of good for the people of Reno.

Given this background, I'm considering minoring in non-profit management, and going on to play a part in the growth and management of the Dorothy Towne Foundation. Something that my parents and I are very concerned with is the focus (or lack thereof) on promoting self-reliance when doing charitable or philanthropic work. It seems that all too often charity is a fleeting and temporary solution to a permanent problem. Fortunately though, we can look to the Church for a prime example of philanthropy in its most ideal form. I recently read an article in the Deseret News that highlights the influence of the Church's work on philanthropic organizations around the world.

The ability to work for something is a blessing often overlooked. As the above article noted, people can't always pay for the materials to build a well, but they can mix the cement and dig the hole, and that's enough to promote a sense of pride and accomplishment that can inspire future growth.

When Europeans began colonizing the Americas in the 17th century, their friends back home saw a perfect opportunity for philanthropy in its truest sense. They saw the opportunity to give resources to the struggling pioneers, so that they could create a whole new world. Today we have opportunities to reach a new generation of struggling pioneers. There are a whole lot of people out there looking to build a better life for their families and countrymen, but lack the resources to do so. By engaging in a tried and true method of self-reliance based philanthropy, we can give a leg up to those modern pioneers who, like so many before them, are looking to create a whole new world.