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In 1853, a professor and preacher named Ransom Dunn would horseback 6000 miles to Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota to raise funds for Hillsdale College. The rural families populating then the upper Midwest were not rich. Nevertheless, they willingly gave $10 to $100 apiece despite them struggling to make a living. This horseback ride was an attestation that charitable giving in America has never been the exclusive province of the wealthy.
Throughout the US history, Americans from all walks of life have generously given for charitable causes. In fact, most of the generous Americans today are the working poor, says Adam Meyerson, president of the Philanthropy Roundtable Organization. He said further that Americans have given 10 times as much to charity as they have spent on professional sports, and twice as much as they have spent on electronics equipment.
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This culture of generosity, which makes America one of the most charitable nations, is founded on two reasons. First, US citizens respect the freedom and the ability of individuals and organizations to make a difference. They do not wait on the government to create solutions. American people find solutions themselves. Such is the case for philanthropists Alex von Furstenberg and Donald Trump; both are working toward solving social illnesses. By supporting charitable and philanthropic causes such as the Operation Smile, they are gradually making change.
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The second reason for the extraordinary American charity is that philanthropy is such an important part of the nation’s business culture. Wealth creation and philanthropy have always gone together in US. From Andrew Carnegie who brought public libraries across US to Warren Buffet, entrepreneurs have sought to be great philanthropists. It is not because they have money. It’s because they have the passion to help.
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