Where does Generosity Come From?

Building a more compassionate and generous world requires a focus on fostering generosity. Part of that is asking generous folks to open up about where they think their generosity comes from.

Maggie Rodriguez

Growing up I spent time with my cousins and family in PR. We are a large family, as my mother has 13 siblings! Many of those that stayed close to home didn’t enjoy all of the comforts and perks we did. So spending time with my cousins and seeing their challenges, while I was so blessed, helped me understand the importance of being generous and sharing all of those things I was blessed with! Read more>>

Grace Sammon

Thanks so much for having me! I love your platform. Generosity? What an interesting question! First, let’s define generosity. For me, I define it as giving freely and openly of all that we have. Let me be clear, that does not translate into, nor disallow for, monetary contributions. True, genuine generosity of spirit, however, comes from within. It is the small kindness you show by greeting someone on the street and looking them in the eye. It is the mentoring or sharing your expertise with someone seeking guidance. Read more>>

Joshua Moore

My partner Odini and I started Res Ipsa in 2013. We’ve seen it grow from keeping all our inventory in Ikea bags in our loft to eight stores and operations in three countries. The universe has been generous with us. Read more>>

Cynthia Spriggs

I get my generosity from my mother. She’s always been a selfless person, willing to help others whenever she can. I’ve always admired that about her, and she taught me the importance of giving from the heart. It’s something I carry with me, and I never hesitate to be generous because I believe it’s one of my strongest attributes. Read more>>

Mandi Monday

I remember my father’s second wife. I remember how my father would bring my younger brother and I to his house to get to know her family, her kids. I remember one morning, I was pouring cereal for me and my younger brother and she walked over and ripped the box out of my hands and told me that the cereal was not for us. I remember how that made me feel and the anger I felt because she made my brother and I felt like we were outcasts. Read more>>

Ataya Chapuis

From a young age, I’ve always had a deep desire to support and uplift others. I vividly recall being drawn to help those around me and ensuring that no one felt excluded. This natural urge to include everyone and be a friend to all stems from the environment I grew up in. My grandmother, for example, was always opening her home to family and friends, offering unwavering support. Similarly, my parents demonstrated the same spirit of generosity.  Read more>>

Tori Diaz

I watched my maternal grand-mother give of herself without seeing anything in return. Read more>>

Sarah Lesko

I had a very nontraditional childhood. My parents self-identified as “hippies” and divorced when I was 4 years old. My sister and I bounced back and forth between my mom and dad for the duration of our school years, and my dad didn’t have any real jobs. He sold marijuana that he grew in our house and yard, picked fruit seasonally, and sometimes left for weeks at a time to do other unknown jobs. My mom started work as a GS-3 (lowest government pay scale) in the Forest Service when I was in kindergarten, and worked her way up. Read more>>

Gabrielle Scott

My generosity comes from my understanding that it is our collective purpose as human beings to contribute to our community. It comes from witnessing my parents exercise extreme acts of generous giving all my life. Whether it was their time, a home cooked meal, an encouraging word or resources at their disposal. I come from a culture where collective progress is uplifted above individual gain. “Together we aspire, together we achieve” being the motto of my home country Trinidad and Tobago.  Read more>>

Pliny Soocoormanee

My generosity stems from two key influences in my life. Growing up, I witnessed my parents, both nurses, tirelessly serving our community in Mauritius. Despite the demanding nature of their work in healthcare, they often extended their care beyond their jobs, offering their time and assistance freely to neighbours, extended family, and even strangers. Their selflessness left a lasting impression on me. Read more>>

Zamariya “zee” Clemons

Generosity authentically comes from within. At Village of Women, one of the primary skills taught is cultivating a heart of gratitude. We’ve been blessed with so much; our community provides so much that it’s inevitable that we give back. So, during our monthly meetings, we also set aside time to perform an act of service for our community. Whether it’s a personal hygiene drive, serving and preparing meals for people in need, or creating holiday cards for retirement homes, our hearts are in the community. Read more>>

Kim Willoughby

I always wonder if editors roll their eyes when interviewees refer back to their childhood as a reason for a certain trait that they inhabit so if that is the case, editors, prepare to have your eyes stuck to the back of your head because my childhood is something that I absolutely reflect on all of the time. As a kid, I didn’t have traditional parents or parental figures in my life. My mom was always working and opening businesses and the passion and drive that she had to scale the business came at the cost of us having to really grow up by ourselves. Read more>>

Q Randle

I think many things in my upbringing could be mentioned but the major part that sticks out currently, is growing up in different, active communities. Between friends, church, sports and a large family, all things that played a role in how I view generosity. Every human has some level of generosity but we all arrive to that destination at different points in life and with various intentions. Sports and church involvement gave me experience in team building. Read more>>

Jamie Maher

My generosity comes from my mom.She is one of those people that will do absolutely anything to help someone. Growing up we always did community service like going to the Ronald McDonald house to provide lunch and Easter egg hunts to the families there and feeding the homeless. My mom has always been the most welcoming loving person and I’ve always wanted to be like her. Read more>>

Carol Prud’homme Davis

I was in fifth grade when I was bussed for the integration of our schools. I didn’t learn much reading and writing during integration, but I did learn a vast amount about humanity. I remember very clearly, when classmates stole and buried brass band instruments, When I asked them, why they stole the instruments, they immediately asked me: “Why should you have nice things, and I have nothing, just because of what family I was born in. Read more>>

Therese Forton-barnes

I have always been one to give back to my community, school, and others in need. My parents taught us at a young age to volunteer and get involved with organizations that need support. I now have a business that gives back to refugee women who have settled in Buffalo, NY. They are master sewists and make our goods and support them financially. I chose this route to bring them into our community and us into theirs. Read more>>

Genshu Price

The generosity that became Bottles4College is originated from my upbringing here in Hawaii. On the islands, we are taught the idea of Aloha. Aloha is not only a word that means hello, love, and goodbye, but is also a lifestyle. One that teaches you to give to others and to that around you without the expectation of anything in return as you are helping better the community and environment.  Read more>>

Jacqueline Powell

Cathy Campo

My generosity is deeply rooted in my own experiences. Growing up in a New Jersey suburb without any industry connections, a career in entertainment felt like a pipe dream. It was only through the kindness and generosity of alumni from my university—who took the time to answer all of my questions, no matter how silly—that I found the confidence and direction to pursue a career in Hollywood. Their willingness to share their time, knowledge, and connections altered the course of my life.

Chayanika Baishya

Acts of kindness have the potential to make the world a happier place for everyone. I am grateful to my parents for raising me with such kindness and generosity, as it has helped me to nurture and cherish meaningful relationships and connections. Read more>>

Kiffin Mccoy-albert

“People want to be your friend because you make an effort to be theirs.” That was one of the biggest compliments I have ever received. I am blessed to come from a very close-knit, generous extended family. That doesn’t mean everyone gets along all the time or that there is no dysfunction, but there is an underlying sense of generosity. My mom is a prime example of this, and I think any innate qualities of generosity I may have been born with were absolutely fostered by her.  Read more>>

Italy Lee

I truly believe that I am one of my grandma’s reflections, which is why my grief for her is particularly special. The more time passes, the more I realize how much of her is embedded in me. For context, my grandma took me in as her own when my parents couldn’t take on their own responsibility. Her grace, kindness, and purity was always something I admired growing up. Even if you weren’t her blood, if you were in her presence she’d feed you, house you, and know that the hospitality was immaculate! Read more>> 

Cindy Witteman

I believe my generosity stems from my humble beginnings. Growing up, I often lacked basic necessities—there were times when we didn’t have running water or electricity, and we faced frequent evictions. If we had a vehicle, it was never for long due to repossessions. Poverty was a constant in my family’s history, which made me wonder how others managed to have the things we didn’t. Along the way, so many people extended a helping hand—whether it was sharing their lunch, giving me clothes, or offering advice on how to build a successful future and break the cycle of generational poverty. Read more>>