20/20 Vision

I'm just wondering how many of you caught 20/20's terrific piece on charity and charitable giving in the United States last night? 

In case you missed it, I wanted to give you just the highlights.  Keep in mind that what I'm about to share with you is information culled both from academics studies and informal 'experiments' run by ABC in the course of producing last night's 20/20, so this is pretty good information:

• Americans, as a whole, give more to charity than the citizens of any other country.  The average American donates $1800 per year to charity.
• The Americans who give the largest percentage of their income to charity are the 'working poor.'  While people in this demographic can't give thousands or millions to charity, the amounts that they DO give represent an enormous percentage of their gross income.
• The Americans who give the smallest percentage of their income to charity are the extremely wealthy - persons with net worths of $1 billion or more.  While people in this demographic give the highest dollar amounts to charity, the amounts that they give represent around 1-2% of their income, as opposed to an average of 10-15% for people classed as the 'working poor.'
• The one indicator that is the best predictor of whether or not a person will give to charity is whether or not the person considers him / herself 'religious' or 'spiritual.'  Persons who consider themselves to be either religious or spiritual outgive people from every other demographic, both in terms of dollars and in terms of percentage of income donated to charity.

The show also featured an in-depth discussion of the medical benefits experienced by people who contribute to charity on a regular basis (these have been detailed in several prominent studies) and interviews with people of every class, from billionaires like Ted Turner to people barely making ends meet working in a meat-packing plant, about why they do / don't give to others, even when doing so should be either extremely difficult or very easy for them.

But all of this is just scratching the surface.  Taken as a whole - and in my personal opinion - last night's 20/20 was simply the best hour on Americans and charity that I have ever seen.  Period.

I could say much more, but really, I'm interested to hear if you saw this 20/20 and, if so, what you thought of it.  I'd love to hear your comments.

Have a great day!

Comments

[Barb/dbbeas]

I caught the last half of the show and was touched by it. The studies are soooo true. Any time I'm feeling down or having a pity party, I make sure to go do something good for someone because it always lifts my spirits. It's like a self-help therapy that's FREE! I serve meals at our local Salvation Army after work and I always leave there feeling energized - I can't explain it; I just know it works!

[Tricia]

I was able to watch the show and I was so glad that I did. The things they said made sense to me...like the "Helper's High" that you get when you give. It really does feel good to give.

[Karen Townsend]

I saw the show. I think most people try to give to charity. I know I'm not religous and my husband Aaron and I tithed the 10% of income while we worked for Sears to The United Way. I was a bell ringer for Salvation Army for 3 years and wrote the bell ringing song and almost everyone tried to donate rather they were rich or poor. I don't think we need one or the other, I think we need the contributions from both. I know you mentioned in a previous blog about those children donating which you found touching and I would love to see a special on that. I know at Carpenter Street School, in Midland, Michigan the 2nd graders sold over 1200 hand made muffins and cookies to buy 10 gifts for the Sharing Tree. I think if everyone worked to help charity as hard as kids do it would be very worthwhile. John Stossel always loves feedback and great comments like yours, I'm sure he would welcome a call from you. His number is 1-212-456-7301. Have a wonderful holiday and new year. karen

[Rori]

I think people feel overwhelmed sometimes. For me, I had to just focus down and pinpoint two areas of continuing need where I can focus.

It does not surprise me that the working poor give more. I think we know what it feels like to need.

[Sonya Rennie]

You know i was reading what i believe her name is Karen said if i am wrong ,(my apologies) she said that we know what it feels like to need and so we tend to give more i am so into that 1 STATEMENT,IT BLEW ME AWAY,I think personally she is so right i give during holidays and i give clothes and we even have given away computers which we have now if anyone needs any for thier kids i am sure my husband would be able to put a few together and they may not be ""THE BEST" and kids may only be able to do homework on it but to tose families that don't have any and they have teenagers who need them for school ,it doesn't really matter if they can play EQ2 on it as long as it works and well, as long as its in thier price range which from us would be free, contact whoever runs this and they can contact me ,as i said they are lder midels and not greatest but they will run, isn't that whats most important for the children?