"I Try to Earn It, Everyday"

Twice this week I have had conversations with two different friends about the value of giving back and the importance of being grateful.

One friend shared how she tries to teach her kids about charity. During the annual ritual of cleaning out the closets and toy bins, she encouraged her young daughter to find a doll or two that she would like to donate to kids in need--and NOT the headless doll! She shared that "charity should hurt"--not in the sense of being painful but that making a true sacrifice is a more powerful lesson about giving.

The other friend and I were talking about the challenges of the current economy and how many people we personally knew who were unemployed or underemployed and really hurting. Almost at the same time, we expressed how grateful we are to be working and doing well. And we shared the same sentiment: "I try to earn it, everyday." Those who know they are blessed often feel a real need to give back and say "thanks" in many different ways.

One of the things that makes me most proud about working at Midwestern University is that our entire University shares this feeling about the importance of giving back and "earning" our personal good fortune. I know of so many ways that our alumni volunteer their time to provide free services, work at health fairs, and even travel abroad to help people in need. Our faculty are constantly organizing walks for disease-related research efforts, like the Heart Walk and Diabetes Walk. As for our students, their list of service projects is seemingly neverending. Health fairs on campus, charity drives for local nonprofits, coat and can collections, working at homeless shelters, and the list goes on. And, I want to stress, this focus on service is not only for the holidays; it happens year-round.

This year, I am especially proud of several of my staff groups, who are likewise giving back. One group has "adopted" a group of adult day center patients at a local hospital, and are buying them each a gift from their wish list. Another group is each taking a name from the "Angel Tree" to give a present to children in need.

Giving back is so ingrained at Midwestern University that sometimes we forget about what a wonderful value it really is. We serve on nonprofit boards, in community organizations, at our churches, synagogues, and mosques, and here on campus. We do this not because we have to or because we want credit, but because it genuinely feels good to give back. From our alumni to our employees to our students, we want to make a difference. Together, I know we are.