Perspectives on Where and How to Foster Generosity

Core to our mission is building a more compassionate and generous world and so we reached out to some of the most generous folks we know to ask them to share where they think their generosity comes from.

Nadia Williamson

My generosity comes from a genuine desire to help others. Growing up as an only child with my grandparents, I was surrounded by a loving community and always had many friends, so I never felt alone. I’ve always loved being around people and cherished the connections I built in my community. From a young age, I developed a deep appreciation for listening to others, truly hearing their stories and needs. This passion for connection carries over into my business, where my care and attentiveness shown in my business. Read more>>

Dom Venice

The loving women that raised me. They taught me that even though there’s a warrior in my masculinity, it’s still beautiful to spread smiles until I need to use it. Read more>>

Anna Flowers

I spent the first 16 years of my life in a very sheltered and strict religious upbringing. This lead me into a very controlling and misogynistic cult run by an ex-Marine named Jim Roberts. Using the tactics of isolation, hunger, sleep depravation and fear I was trapped from my late teens to my early adulthood until I found my courage to escape. I very shortly stumbled into the arms of someone who went from being charismatic and charming to very controlling and abusive once we married. Having been ill prepared for the world and taught subservience to men I was easily entrapped. Years later when I finally had enough I escaped my ex-husband. I find myself a single mother of two children with no work history, no collage education, and very low self esteem. I had to find work, put myself through collage and raise two children on my own. It was a nearly impossible situation and one that taught me a lot about myself and what I was capable of. Read more>>

Souliyanh Sangvone

I would say my generosity comes from my mother . She’s taught me , treat others how you wanted to be treated. For me at that point , I’ve always put others before me . I’ve had a rough past life , I’m such an empathetic person . I like to take care of others because i know how it feels like to be afraid , alone. Confused . In my eyes i don’t want anyone to feel like that . So i do my best to be there for someone . Overall just makes me happy seeing someone happy . I always think about you never know what’s someone going through . Why be mean ? We’re in a world where everyone is trying to survive and make it. I think that’s why I’ve chosen the name “ SUNSHINE” as my nickname . My first name is Souliyanh, which comes from my nationality Lao. In translation it means Sunshine . A lot of people have told me they believed I’m an human form of a ray of shine because I’m just full of happiness and really good company. Read more>>

Jayime Jean

I trust my souls feelings I usually get a nudge suggesting someone’s needing something they’re lacking and if I have it, I offer it or sometimes I just see somebody doing something that feels like it’s the right thing to do for humanity and before you know it I’m guided to Offer a piece of art a donation my time of service I think generosity comes from the alignment of being open to feel . You can look at someone and feel what they need. Read more>>

Phillip Kim

I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to share the story of the incredible people in my life who have shown me unparalleled generosity and kindness. I must begin by talking about my Godmother, Mary Tabuchi, who became not only a best friend but also a second mother to me when I was 19. Read more>>

Drs. Corinthian & Erica Tyson

Both come from a set of parents who we saw as givers in our childhood. Whether that generosity was in the form of time, money, a shoulder to cry on, or advise, we saw our parents sacrifice throughout our lives. Growing up in church, we were taught that if your hands are closed you can only hold on to what you have, but once those hands open, you are able to give to others with the possibility of receiving something greater. Our generosity doesn’t come from a place of expecting return, but from a position of being able to see others benefit. Read more>>

Shawnte Orion

It almost feels like carrying on a tradition. From my earliest days of trying to become a writer, some of my favorite poets were unnecessarily kind and supportive to me. People like David Chorlton, Kelli Russell Agodon, and Denise Duhamel had no reason and nothing to gain by giving me the time of day, but they did. I’ll never forget it, so whenever I encounter younger or emerging writers who have any interest in my projects, I take pride in making time for them. It’s my secret way of honoring everyone who helped me along the way. Read more>>

Aly Sikora

I think it’s always just been a really strong value of mine. I’ve always been a very passionate person by nature, and I can recall the desire to make a difference from a very young age. My Grandmother was also a very strong influence for me in my upbringing. She was the most selfless and thoughtful person you could ever meet. She had the warmest hugs and it was as if you could feel her warmth and kindness radiating. The funniest memory I always tell people when describing her generosity was that it was nearly impossible to ever leave her home without her saying, “Isn’t there something I’m supposed to give you?” The catch was that I’d already have a bag full of things in my hand she had given during the visit, yet she was still so certain there was something more to give. Read more>>

Ed Freedman

I learned it from my grandfather. He was never a rich man, but he would share everything he could with anyone who needed it. I remember he used to carry around copies of a poem by Edgar Albert Guest, “Don’t Quit,” and give them to people he saw struggling through their day. My grandfather wanted to make a positive impact on the world, and he wanted that impact to be as great as possible. He used to tell me, “It’s not enough to do good—inspire others to do good, too.” Years later, that message was echoed by my friend Hayes Bernard, who founded the nonprofit GivePower. Hayes encouraged me to “go out and get your hands dirty helping people, then see where that takes you.” That was some of the best advice I’ve ever heard. Read more>>

Adrienne Visnic A.j. Helfet

Calling ourselves generous feels a little indulgent, but “generosity” is a foundational pillar of what we’re building. On the surface, REVEL is a live show where we stage read unproduced scripts. But at its core, REVEL gives writers and actors a place to succeed. To celebrate their tremendous talent and hard work outside of an industry that can be extremely withholding. That space would be empty if our incredible community didn’t give in return. Writers, performers, audience members. Everyone donates their time, their creativity, and their support. They have shown remarkable generosity, and our show has grown more than we possibly could have imagined. Giving is cyclical. Everything we put in, we have received back a thousand times over in fantastic work and wonderful people. Why would we ever want to stop? Read more>>

Penelope Clardy

Many people hear ‘generosity’ and immediately think money. I’d like to challenge that view point. Generosity is the giving of anything sacrificial. So for me to live a life of generosity, is for me to give of my time, my talent, my treasure, my attention, my care, my heart, my love…even if it brings me a certain level of discomfort. Jesus gave of Himself fully, He didn’t withhold any drop of His blood on the cross when He paid a debt He didn’t owe because we owed a debt we couldn’t pay. His life and His word shows us how to live generous. Mathew 5:41 says to go the extra mile for people. Don’t just do the bare minimum. Practice a lifestyle of unreasonable hospitality. Especially when it comes to being generous with our forgiveness to one another. When you feel like you’ve forgiven until you can’t forgive anymore…forgive again. Why? Because that is the same grace and forgiveness we receive from our Father in Heaven. Read more>>

Mariela Fernández

My generosity stems from my empathetic nature and the experiences that have shaped me. My grandmother poured little droplets of generosity into my life while I was growing up—whether it was through her warm meals and sweet desserts, little gifts of love or the way she always made time to listen to others. I carry her lessons with me and thank her for this gift. I believe we all have something to share, and giving enriches us in beautiful ways—filling our lives with kindness, abundance, and love. For me, generosity is about giving freely and selflessly, fostering meaningful connections, and cultivating gratitude with others. Read more>>

Garfield Redden

My generosity comes from others helping me along the way, guiding me through challenges, and teaching me things that have allowed me to perform better. I truly believe in the principle that what comes around goes around, so I strive to give back in the same way I’ve been supported. Read more>>

Sonja Amelia

My generosity comes from a deep connection to my own journey of growth, resilience, and healing. I’ve faced struggles when it comes to my mental health (severe anxiety, depression, eating disorders etc.) in addition to the pain of losing loved ones, navigating trauma and more… these experiences have shaped me into someone who deeply understands the importance of support and connection. I know what it’s like to feel lost, alone or overwhelmed, and that’s why I’m passionate about creating spaces and tools that inspire healing and hope. I think generosity and kindness go hand-in-hand and it has become part of my purpose to give back to others as much as I can. Read more>>

Charles Hardy

My compassionate spirit originates from the profound loss of my mother to cancer. In her final moments, she expressed her heartfelt wish for me to help rebuild the city where she grew up. Her dream inspires me to honor her memory through acts of kindness and community renewal. Read more>>

Stephanie Ferrato

My generosity comes from a lesson my grandfather taught me: ‘Leave people better than when you found them.’ That phrase has shaped how I view the world and interact with others. I believe everyone is fighting battles we know nothing about. In today’s age, especially with social media, we mostly see the highlights of people’s lives, not the struggles behind the scenes. Read more>>

Ren Glass

I am one of seven children, so I learned how to share early on. Before tattooing, I performed in theater and bands. Performance art requires collaborative skills for writing and rehearsing before ever hitting the stage. I really developed my generosity by being in community with other artists, creating music and drama – even comedy. Read more>>

Brittny Ray Crowell

I’ve been fortunate to come from a host of loving, giving people. My immediate thoughts go to my grandmother, Eunice, and her sister Dorothy, whom we affectionately called Aunt Dot. We all know the cliche about people willing to give you the shirts off their backs, but I’ve never seen anyone practice a ministry of kindness like these two women. They were always making something to give away: jars of muscadine or strawberry and fig jelly, freezer bags full of chopped vegetables from their gardens, or bushels of the prettiest, greenest collard leaves. I think it actually might have hurt them to see you go without leaving with something. You’d stand up and get ready to go and they’d already have some parting bundle prepared or they’d have you follow behind them as they pulled things from the pantry or closet. Before I left to study abroad, Aunt Dot gave me a beautiful hand pieced quilt. I carried it with me on my lap all the way to Thailand.  Read more>>

Natalie Conneely

My generosity comes from a lifetime of witnessing my parents give back to heir communities. My father worked with Save the Children as an Emergency Relief Director and my mother worked for the Peace Corps in Bolivia for more than 35 years. My whole life I’ve known service to be a fundamental part of life. Volunteering at an early age while in 3rd grade, all the way through present where I work for four different nonprofits offering my time and energy to help their community based work. Read more>>

Andrew St Juste

“My journey into gardening this year became an unexpected masterclass in life philosophy. I watched in awe as tiny seeds transformed into thriving plants under my care. The most profound lesson came from the pruning process – how cutting back actually encouraged plants to grow back four times stronger. It challenged everything I thought I knew about growth and nurturing. This experience completely shifted my perspective on relationships and personal development. Just like in my garden, some investments yield immediate results – like a fruit-bearing tree – while others are more like seedlings, requiring patience and consistent care before they flourish. I’ve learned to approach both my personal and professional relationships with this gardener’s mindset. Read more>>

Diana Rondon

For a while I wondered what was the reason why I am so easily detached from items, which allowed me to understand where my generosity comes from. After years of reflecting, I understood this is a quality that I was able to embrace throughout the years. I’ve realized this is part of my personality since birth as a child in pre-school, I used to share what I had, rather than what I could spare. I grew up in a home that lacked abundance, our necessities and lack of comfort were part of our daily routine. In my house there was no fridge or leaving room. But we had an abundance of books. At 13 years old my mother became a single mother after divorcing my father. She was our household’s only form of income; I was a first-hand witness of her daily struggles looking for right combination of quality vs price when shopping for groceries. Read more>>

Ericka Frank

Growing up, I always had a roof over my head and had parents who loved me, but we definitely had some “lean” times when dinner was boxed macaroni and cheese for multiple days in a row and our prayers were focused around the need for gas money to be able to get to school. Despite being in a financially tight place for years at a time, my mom and stepdad were some of the most generous people I knew. Whether it was hospitality (inviting groups of people to our home for a big pot of chili) or more tangible giving of “things,” there was always someone who had less than us, and it was my parents’ heart to share what they had. Read more>>

Gilles

i am coming from a very giving, loving, generous family. My parents gave us everything we needed since we were born. My mom devoted her life for us (and still does at 80 years old). She is the woman people (from friends, to grand children, and grant grand children, to family) call to talk, to organize, to celebrate, to get positive energy. My father is the same on a totally different way. He has been always the one treating everyone at a restaurant, while traveling, bringing presents to all. Maybe why he never got rich 🙂 even if he has been successful, (to a certain degree). my brother and sister are the same, in their own way. Then i am part of that JOY of giving pleasure to people. Creating a business world which only gives all of that to people i know and even don’t know. I really get HIGH from that.  Read more>>

Mallory Jacobus

I grew up in a split home. My dad gained full custody of me and we lived in a little house; a cinder block I believe, next to our landlord, an old man, and his wife who owned a used car lot in front of our house. Our place was perfect for the two of us and we had everything we needed. I truly enjoyed growing up there. A big field in the back, and some other neighborhood kids we would ride our bikes like crazy every day after school. My life was full and my joy came from being out in nature and connections with my peers. Later when my mother was well we lived in the same trailer for years in a trailer park and then on top of a mountain in Endneyville, in an Apple Orchard. The sunset was stunning. We had chickens.  Read more>>

Julie Cantrell

What a great question! My mother and my childhood community taught me the importance of having a generous spirit. Growing up in rural Louisiana with a single mother who earned a very limiting salary as a public school teacher, I’m sure we were at the lower end of the financial spectrum. And yet … we never once felt “poor.” Everyone around me had a difficult life in many ways, particularly financially, and yet they were the most generous, selfless people imaginable. Read more>>

Vacari Dickerson

My generosity comes from the biblical understanding that, number one: God loves a cheerful giver and when we give generously He returns it back to us generously (2 Corinthians 9:6-9). Number two: I’ve always had a heart for the poor, houseless, and those who are considered to be less fortunate. Even before I knew the spiritual principles and power attached to giving to the poor, I’ve always given to and have wanted to help those in need as much and as often as I could. Number 3: It is the desire to be obedient to the command and will of God, that has solidified my desire to be generous. As a blood bought believer of Jesus Christ, I am commanded to be generous to the poor so I will do so, no questions asked. I simply want to please God and if being generous is apart of that, I will absolutely do it! Read more>>

Jalpa Shah

My generosity comes from working with my heart rather than my mind. I’ve always believed in the power of kindness and giving without expecting anything in return. I give because it feels right to me, not because I expect something back. Even though there have been times when people have taken advantage of my generosity or gossiped about me, I choose to stay true to myself and continue giving with sincerity. Read more>>

Eva De La Cruz

My generosity stems from my upbringing in a humble family from Mexico, shaped by the values and experiences of my parents. Growing up, I often heard the story of how my family migrated to the U.S. with nothing to their name. Despite having family already here, no one offered help. I vividly remember being around four years old, living in a small one-bedroom apartment with my mom, dad, and three siblings. Read more>>

Shalean Ehr

Where does my generosity come from? It comes from my Heavenly Father who has given me more than I could have asked for or imagined. He used my perfectly imperfect parents to model generosity to me. Growing up we had an ‘open door’ policy. People, mainly mine and my brother friends, were constantly finding refuge in our home. Some came from rough backgrounds. Others just needed a place to crash while things calmed down at their home. This isn’t to say my home was all peachy perfect. My father was an alcoholic whose mood switch on a dime after that ‘one too many’. My mom always keeping the peace the best she could and giving me the last $5 she had to go to a dance. Despite our own dysfunction; kid after kid came into our home and they felt loved and accepted as they were. My parents truly have hearts of gold. Read more>>