Guest Column in the Pelican Press, Sarasota, Florida – Oprah inspires a movement to Give Back
Three years ago, I was on a reality series that changed my life – “Oprah’s Big Give.” Oprah’s goal was to find America’s “best unknown philanthropist.” After 8 episodes involving charitable giving in cities around the country, I was named the biggest giver. But, the biggest surprise was still to come: Oprah Winfrey handed me a check for $1 million. Half, she said, had to be donated to charity.
Before the show, I was working as a civil engineer, but it was soon clear that philanthropy would become my life’s new path. And, not just because I suddenly had money to give away. The thrill of having more to give to others because of Oprah ignited a quest within me: How could I do for others what Oprah did for me – empower someone to give more money to charity than they normally do?
As instructed, I gave away the $500,000 to the causes and charities I cared about. The best thing about Oprah’s gift was that it was not for her favorites, nor anyone else’s. But mine, it was the start of my foundation, one place to do all my giving. Who ever thought an ordinary guy like me could have his own foundation? Aren’t foundations only for the rich?
Oprah always speaks of living “your best life.” I believe that each person’s best life is defined in many different ways. However, the one thing that all “best lives” have in common is the act of giving back, loving and serving our fellow man; being an everyday philanthropist. Whether you are a doctor, lawyer, electrician, parent, single mom, waiter or living your life some other way, we are all philanthropists and should be celebrated for the good we bring to the world.
It was Oprah’s inspiration and these thoughts that moved me to start GiveBack.org, an online movement that enables anyone to setup his/her own foundation for free. Your GiveBack foundation is a “charitable savings account” where you can give your money away, but most important, where we give you more money every time you shop, go to the movies or go out to eat. You have more money to give to your favorite charities.
When you join GiveBack.org and use the platform, money accrues in your individual foundation account. Any amount of money can be distributed to any charity, any time you choose. GiveBack.org tracks it all and helps you manage giving throughout the year, including one simple tax report for the IRS. 100 percent of the money in an account goes to charity, with no transaction fees subtracted.
Already, Americans from 49 states have joined, with New York, California, Texas and Florida creating the most GiveBack foundations. To date, our members have supported over 900 charities. Best of all, the donations didn’t require anyone to squeeze their paycheck any harder. The site features more than 450 retail partners that reward a cash-back from purchases to the shopper’s foundation. Members making their everyday purchases through GiveBack are steadily building a bigger account for charitable giving.
GiveBack also serves as a fundraising vehicle for nonprofits. For instance, in Sarasota donors who support the Cancer Support Community Florida Suncoast, The Ringling Museum, SPARCC (Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center), Boys and Girls Clubs or any other organization can raise additional money simply by doing something they do almost everyday: shop.
Oprah’s gift was her ability to tell a story and pierce the heart of us all, enabling us to be part of the experience. At GiveBack, we want to share the stories of the everyday philanthropist. Our members have sent us hundreds of stories of how they make a difference in the world. These are the gems of a life, showing how the world can change when we give of ourselves. Like Oprah, at GiveBack we celebrate these moments.
Stephen Paletta is the CEO and Founder of GiveBack.org, celebrates the philanthropist in us all, with a personal foundation for charitable giving. The website, launched in 2010, gives people more money to give away and helps manage their charitable giving. For more information, please visit, www.giveback.org
