How being a ‘do-er’ not just a ‘donor’ can change your life for the better!
- Kate Zarouk
- Apr 26
- 3 min read
By Kate Zarouk, Executive Director, We Benefit Children
My mother, like many of your mothers, instilled the importance of philanthropy in her children. Our family donated to various organizations and community programs. As my brother and I got older, we also began volunteering for charitable causes in a variety of ways: participating in charity walks, feeding the needy, delivering food to homebound seniors, and volunteering at the local hospital. Our mother challenged us to find programs or organizations that we thought were interesting, explain to her why we should support the cause, and then if we could convince her, we would donate or support the chosen group. Who knew those skills would come in so handy during my professional life. Our mother made sure that we grew up knowing that this was just how one lived life and not something done to earn school, work, personal or spiritual credit.
As I entered adulthood, I recognized that not ALL families incorporated philanthropy in their daily lives let alone by volunteering. Please, don’t tell my mother her pronouncement on life was actually hyperbolic. I understood that donating funds was tied to a person’s financial situation, however I didn’t understand why more people did not make the time to volunteer. Therefore, while in college, law school and in my early professional life, I made the effort to do both, because it was right for me.
Fast forward MANY years later and I realized that I, in generous terms, did not enjoy my career. Further, as with many adults, I seemed to no longer have the time to volunteer. I still donated, but I no longer made the effort to organize my time to include volunteering. I took time to reflect and decided to make a change and return to a time when I felt like I was making the mhttps://webenefitchildren.orgost difference- a time when I was giving not just my “treasure” but my time by volunteering in person.
I analyzed how everything I did in my life impacted my mood and my overall outlook; and what I realized from my unscientific study was that I was indeed less frustrated, more fulfilled and dare I say happier the more I engaged in meaningful volunteering. So, can you imagine my excitement when I randomly found a job posting for a leader of a nonprofit organization that focused on improving the lives of underserved and at-risk youth and provided the opportunity for its supporters to volunteer in person in addition to writing checks. The stars aligned, and I was hired as the Executive Director of We Benefit Children (WBC) WBC does exactly what I was raised to believe in and what gives me the most purpose. I thrive knowing that my work is making the lives of people in need better, especially when we are empowering them to help themselves.
That knowledge, in addition to hearing the feedback of our volunteers as well as those who we have impacted in the community, fuels me to do more work to inspire more people to engage. In short, engaging as a ‘do-er’ not just a ‘donor’, allows a person to take the benefits of philanthropy to the next level.
While many people try to demonstrate for their children and grandchildren the importance of giving to causes that align with your values, the added benefit of showing your family that children who have less are exactly like the children who have more in all areas that count is a valuable lesson that is best taught through shared experience. This concept has become my magnificent obsession.
For those of you who are interested here are links to articles demonstrating the benefits of philanthropy to your health:
Why Giving is Good for Your Health (Cleveland Clinic)
