The Gift of Giving: Insights on Authentic Generosity

We asked some of the most generous entrepreneurs, artists and creatives we know to talk to us about where they think their generosity comes from.

Tina Demirdjian

There were moments I truly understood I was being led. Poetry entered my life unexpectedly–after my first poetry workshop with Manazar Gamboa at Homeland Neighborhood Center in Long Beach in 1990, a magical place thanks to the vision of Dixie Swift. I wanted to donate my time to support the community program that she and Manazar ran. That evening he asked: “Why don’t you stay and write poetry tonight,” “I don’t write poetry,” I said. He laughed; and so I went. Read more>>

Kareem Amado

Generosity is actually in my nature and core of who I am. When I got older I started to do some soul searching and during that time I discovered the definition of my name and the numerical value that it holds through gemetria. I discovered that the origin of my name is Arabic and it means generous, noble, & honorable one and its one of the 99 names of Allah in the muslim religion. I remember as a child I would read stories in the bible and in those ancient days the people of that time believed that what you name your baby boy or baby girl would determine their very nature & destiny. I do believe my father and mother was inspired by God to give me that name.  Read more>>

Tanishka Juneja

My generosity stems from a deep-rooted belief in the power of kindness and the positive ripple effect it can create in the world. Growing up, I was fortunate to witness my parents constantly giving back to others, whether it was supporting our house help, offering a listening ear to a friend or helping a stranger, without expecting anything in return. That showed me the true meaning of selflessness and giving. Read more>>

Lisa He

I had generosity modeled for me by all of my caretakers growing up. I’ve seen my parents and other family members make huge sacrifices for their friends and each other for the common good, and they’ve always taught me to give and help whenever I can. At the end of the day, we’re all human, and if we’re in a position to help each other, it’s our duty and it’s something I take seriously. Read more>>

Nino Yuniardi

I think it’s something I’ve picked up by watching the people around me.
My parents have always been generous with their time, often sitting down with couples to help them work through tough times. They never made a big deal of it, but they were always there when someone needed a listening ear. That quiet, steady kindness made an impression on me. It wasn’t about making a statement; it was just about being there for people when they needed help. Read more>>

Glen Kessler

I was in art school working on developing myself as an artist, of course. But whenever we would line up our work for critiques, I found myself incredibly passionate about conveying what was wrong and how it could be made right in my peers’ work. I believed then, as I believe now, that a rising tide lifts all ships. Read more>>

Andre “legindary Dre” Collins

My mom always taught me to treat others how I’d want to be treated- so I always make sure to give everyone the utmost respect, and to always give more than I can receive. Read more>>

Grim Bernhoft

I think I’ve always felt a strong sense of joy in giving, To share is the the core of the purpose of creativity I think, to take an emotion and transform it into a gift for someone. Read more>>

Andrea L. Wehlann

My generosity comes from experiencing and practicing impermanence in my yoga and Zen studies and applying it to my life. I trust my life is for the well being of others, There is no yoga without ethics and being a yogi, one of the yamas is non-possessiveness or generosity. I embody this . At my yoga studio, Ganga Moon Yoga & Reiki Skool, there is a Dana box on the entrance desk, Dana in my Buddhist studies is the act of whole hearted giving. This is where students place their money for the classes, the practice of giving, being generous. Read more>>

Marwa Taha

My generosity stems from a deep-rooted belief in the power of connection and community. Throughout my life, I have witnessed the profound impact that acts of kindness can have on individuals and their surroundings. This understanding fuels my desire to share my resources, time, and knowledge with others. Professionally, I prioritize collaboration and mentorship, striving to uplift those around me by creating opportunities for growth and development. Whether it’s offering my expertise to colleagues, volunteering for local initiatives, or mentoring aspiring professionals, I find fulfillment in contributing to a positive environment. Read more>>

Elizabeth Duhig

The conditions that allowed me to develop my sense of generosity stem from a few different aspects of my life. From my childhood to running my humanitarian project, my life has always been surrounded by the virtue of generosity. I was firstly taught by example by my parents, who exemplified the profound joy of giving to others. Additionally, I have experienced generosity through my friends throughout my life. They taught me that generosity is a multifaceted thing that can be used everywhere. I take these teachings that the people in my life have given me and translate them into volunteerism, and The Ground Up Project. Read more>>

Jody Jones Ii (grandace)

I love to see people happy! I find that my generosity tends to come from my desire to put as much good into the world as I possibly can. I realized back when I was in school that it’s the little things that go a long way, and often times it only takes about ten or so seconds to be able to alter the course of a person’s day for the better just by being considerate of how they feel. You never know what someone is going through! I’ve witnessed people in the worst moods light up just because I was gentle with them and they open up to me about how horrible of a time they’d been having. Read more>>

Sam Derose Jr.

I think the word “generosity” is really a derivative of what truly makes a person happy. The Yin and the Yang of “Service To Others” verses “Service To Self”. People focused on helping those around them will be in a classified frequency of “Service to Others”. Whereas people focused on only their own needs and ambitions will be in a classified frequency of “Service to Self”. Read more>>

Jen Braaksma

I interpret generosity not so much as “giving”, but “giving what other people need”. That may sound obvious, but in my job as a book coach and author, what my clients and readers need is often abstract. They need to be heard. They need to feel valued. They need someone else to believe in them. My job, then, isn’t just about the technical craft of writing, but also of empathy. The more I can feel what they feel, the more I can see what they need. For me, empathy is intuitive, but I’ve learned over the years that it’s not always easy for others, so I’ve become more aware of how to break down that skill and pass on my insights.  Read more>>

Mariana Costales

Generosity is a quality in which someone shares their resources to help another person. I think everyone would be pleased to receive a bit of generosity daily. When I think of being generous, I usually think of the people who have been generous to me. When I was in elementary school, I was a very lonely child. I had a lot of trouble making friends because I thought I wasn´t someone worthy of having a friend. I didn´t talk much. I constantly felt sad because I was bullied, and my bully used to throw my things out the window or tell me words that hurt me a lot. One day, before the bell rang for lunchtime, my bully had made me cry again.  Read more>>

Allison Stieger

I’ve been a student and teacher of mythology for decades now, and working with myth for so long has taught me an incredibly important lesson. Myths are, at their essence, gifts from our ancestors. Human life has its challenges, as we all know so well, and those who came before us wanted to share what they had learned, and the did so in the form of stories. Stories are the best way to communicate information among us, and telling exciting ones, filled with danger, romance, and humor, is an excellent way to share lessons learned and mistakes made over generations. Read more>>

Jennifer Wilde

My generosity comes from my past experiences. Throughout my life I have been bullied, called fat, harassed, told I would not amount to anything, dealt with toxic work environments, and verbally abused. With the world we live in and hearing and seeing so much negativity, on top of experiencing so much negativity, I realized that now was the time to help make a change. And if I wanted to see change, I needed to be a part of the change. So how I have done this is through sharing positive quotes, and funny comics, and sending my friends, co-workers, and sash sisters messages of love and inspiration. Read more>>

JoWanda Dziesinski

That’s easy: others have been so generous with me. I have often been the recipient of time, resources and good advice that are the steps up that we all need in our journeys, and generosity is a natural currency in an economy of kindness. I say economy, because you really are not giving without anything in return, It is an absolute guarantee that you will get a return, much more so than a monetary transaction. It just may come from a different direction or in a different form, and in its own timing It is easy to understand if you believe in such things.  Read more>>