While the city was experiencing a deluge of rain and wind Saturday evening, a few hundred Kansas Citians were gathered inside Union Station, showing their support of domestic violence victims at the Hope House annual gala, “believe2017”. Hope House literally provides the hope that many women, children, and men seek after having been beaten down by the cruelty of those they love.
As the storm raged outside bringing loud claps of thunder and flashes of lightening, it became the perfect backdrop for the onscreen video reenactment of a young girl hiding inside a closet, listening to her mother scream for her life. Not easy to watch.
Why did I choose to attend? Helping others in need energizes me. About twenty years ago, I was between jobs and someone asked, “What would you do if you could do anything?” I remember saying, “Give money to those trying to help themselves.” The idea of giving money to help another just rocks my world. I have no idea why I have this innate desire, I just do. But since I’m not Bill Gates, my dream remained a dream for years.
Fast forward twenty plus years and now I find myself working for a man who has the same dream. At Stewardship Capital, we give 10% of our assets under management to non-profits – organizations like Community Services League, Hillcrest Transitional Housing, Restoration House, Rainbow Center for Communicative Disorders, Drumm Farm Center for Children and many others. The premise of these organizations is to help those in need learn to help themselves.
The Centre for Social Justice says that “Stable, healthy families are at the heart of strong societies. It is within the family environment that an individual’s physical, emotional and psychological development occurs.”
The Obama administration may claim the phrase “Give Back” as part of their legacy, but I say it’s nothing new. Being generous of heart, with our finances and our time, requires intentionality and pure motives. The corporate vision of Stewardship Capital is to see our community exercise wise financial stewardship, which we believe will result in stronger families and stable economic growth. Each time we help a client make a wise financial choice, we believe our community takes one step closer to becoming the community of our dreams.
In the Message version of the Bible, Proverbs 11:24-25 reads “The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller. The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.”
Undoubtedly, I am blessed. I also believe that God births desires in our hearts so that He can one day fulfill them. My current reality may not mimic my original dream but I do find myself in a position where I am allowed input into the decision-making process for those who will receive gifts out of our abundance. As far as I’m concerned, that’s a dream fulfilled!
Editorial by Becky Giles
(Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Advice is intended to be general in nature.)
http://www.centreforsocialjustice.org.uk/policy/breakthrough-britain/family-breakdown