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.
Layl McDill
When I was growing up I saw my parents being continually generous and being involved in the community. They ran their own business and I knew they always put their employees first. My mother took in neighborhood kids that needed extra support whenever they showed up and it seems like they always kept showing up. It was always just a given that you would help anyone in need. They were also involved in organizations like Kiwanis and continue to be serial volunteers even in retirement. Read more>>
Melina Nikolina Donalson
Interestingly, I’ve been criticized in the past by some, stating that I should ask more for my work, my time, etc. To me, giving has always felt intrinsic and better than getting. When I was four years old I had my tonsils removed and stayed overnight in the hospital. I shared a room with another little girl who was very scared and crying all night. Next to my bed were gifts from my family, a stuffed Mickey Mouse and a Babar The Elephant book. I climbed out of my hospital bed and gave the girl my stuffed Mickey, and read to her until she fell asleep. Read more>>
Andrew Bartolotta
My generosity is rooted in a deep belief that we are here to make a positive impact in the lives of others and in our communities. It’s a value instilled in me through years of dedicated volunteer and nonprofit board service like with Volunteer Mid-South, Let’s Innovate Through Education, and Southaven Young Professionals. This experience taught me the power of giving back and the profound effect it can have on those in need. Read more>>
Flower Sanchez
It comes from generational love in short. My generosity has always been both a gift and a curse at times. Especially when it comes to discernment in friendships and relationships. However, it’s just who I am naturally. And I‘ve never regretted one bit it. I love seeing other people happy and if I’m able to help facilitate that I will. I believe in the power that giving brings into my life. I have all that I need always so why not share it.Read more>>
Maddie Alexandria
My generosity comes being my parents. I know it sounds very cliche, but I was raised to always be kind to people no matter what. Being kind to people has gotten me very far in life. you attract more clientele, and opportunities from being simply generous to people. You never want your brand nor business to have a bad rep from being rude to others, you really never know who you could be talking to. I could be talking to a billionaire who wanted to invest in my company but it could be taken away from poor attitude. Read more>>
Quantal Langford
I get my generosity and big heart from various people. I would say from people like my wife, my granddad and my mom. Learning to give (your time, skills, or monetary) to help others in need has always been in my DNA. Knowing that what I say, through my podcast, is inspiring people and giving listeners what they need during the course of their day. Giving my time through helping with the local arts community like Studio Ace Arts or helping with the homeless with Humanity Showers, or helping out wrestlers with Palomar College. That’s just who I am. Read more>>
Bartola Anderson
In my journey, inspired by the biblical call to love my neighbor as myself (Matthew 22:39), I’ve centered my actions around generosity as a reflection of my faith. Acts of kindness, big and small, have become a natural expression of my commitment to living out biblical values. This generosity has created a ripple effect, transforming my community into an illustration of unity and love. Read more>>
Sharlet Too
I was privileged to be raised by parents who were and still are natural givers. I remember when I was younger, my dad would constantly open up our home to long distant family or family friends to reside with us until they got their lives situated. On the other hand, my mom would take my sister and I to volunteer in various Children Homes, Elderly People Homes, HIV Patients Homes, etc. Giving back became a part of my life having seen this modeled by my parents. Read more>>
Sergio Bonacci Lapalma
I believe the origins of my generosity can be traced back to a story from my childhood—one that my mom often recounts and never fails to astonish me. It revolves around our move from Los Angeles, CA, to Argentina when I was six years old. During our early days in Argentina, we visited a public hospital for vaccinations. In Argentina, healthcare is considered a fundamental human right, providing social medicine for all. Despite being US citizens in a foreign land, my brothers and I were treated as Argentine citizens, except for one instance. Read more>>
Geno Pacino
My generosity comes from me treating people how I wanted to be treated. I have a huge heart I don’t expect that from others. But as my finances or blessings increase I have always consistently taken that to help others. I have been through some really turbulent times in my life & mostly suffered through that alone. My generosity comes from me wanting to be a beacon of light in a world of darkness. Read more>>
Amy Temperley
Throughout my life, I have seen generosity demonstrated by my parents, especially my mother. In elementary school, my mother volunteered at our school or played piano for the local state school serving individuals with disabilities. In my early teens, she won a “Volunteer of the Year” award in my hometown. Primarily, I watched her and my father care for those around them. Whenever a family member or friend was in need, they were there to help whether that was financial support or hands-on care. Read more>>
Dr. Jennifer Rispoli
My generosity has a strong faith background. I was raised in the church and have seen tithing for my entire life. Anyone who tithes knows that financially things seem always work out ok, even when you don’t know how/there is no explanation. My husband always says “The hole you give through is the hole your receive through.” He also always says “You can’t outgive God.” I have found both of these things to be extremely true. Read more>>
Christian Belle
My grandfather! Before his passing, he was in the process of starting a foundation to help feed the hungry and homeless in the community. He was passionate about charitable work and helping the less fortunate. Read more>>
Stephanie Ho
Generosity is a form of empowerment. When we perform music, plan programs and create concert events we think: 1. How can we give back to our community? 2. How can we be of service to our community? When we prepare with these two questions in mind, we feel strengthened and focused on our project. It becomes less about how we practice and rehearse a composition to perfection and more about how our practicing and preparation serves our audience and community. We prepare more effectively, without letting personal ambitions and expectations get in the way. Read more>>
Ryan Thompson
My sense of generosity is deeply rooted in my connection to the community. It is driven by empathy, compassion, personal values, and a strong desire to make a positive impact on others. I am motivated to be generous because it brings a profound sense of self and fulfillment when I engage in meaningful acts of kindness and support. Through my personal experiences of working with those in need, I have come to understand the importance of social responsibility and the fulfillment it brings. Read more>>
Valentina Latyna
My generosity comes from the lessons I learned in the Girl Scouts. I’ve always gravitated towards philosophy as a way of living. Through these teachings, I’ve learned to be a more accepting and giving person. My mom is also a significant influence on the way I see things. She was a single mother of two while pursuing her acting career. Her strength, caring and selflessness are what I believe made me a giving and generous person in general I also believe in the Pay it forward. Read more>>
Lauren Ready
One of my core values is service. It’s a the heart of everything I do; both professionally and personally. When it comes to my career and business, I am constantly asking the question: how can I best serve the needs of my community through my work. I believe it started at young age when my high school hosted a day of service and continued into my college years when serve learning was a core part of my education. Read more>>
Natalie Pluto
Being kind to everyone and anyone has always been a natural priority to me as I navigate through life. My generosity comes from my family, and how I was raised. I’m forever grateful for it, and for growing up in such a warm and supportive setting. It has really shaped me into who I am today, and has helped me overcome a lot of tough obstacles. I only wish to share this warmth with the rest of the world. Read more>>
Najya Williams
My mama and grandmother instilled the importance of generosity into me from a very young age. Throughout my childhood, they would allow me to bear witness to the “random” acts of kindness they performed for their friends, involve me in donating clothes, and solicit my help in making a home-cooked meal for anyone in need. By the time I reached elementary school, my mama had to teach me that I don’t have to give EVERYTHING away and that taking care of myself first doesn’t make me an awful person. [laughter] Read more>>
Tabetha McNeal
In my journey of working with children, I’ve discovered that true generosity stems from appreciating the simple joys and the value of small gestures. When you’re surrounded by the unfiltered honesty and boundless curiosity of kids, you learn to see the world through their eyes and find joy in making even the simplest things better. My generosity is rooted in the belief that if all I have is all I need, then sharing and giving become second nature. It’s about asking myself, “How can I make this better with what I have?” and realizing that often, what I have is more than enough to make a positive impact. Read more>>
Sharice Brown
Hands down, my grandparents! I can really say, I get my generosity from my entire family, but in all actuality, the generosity stems from my Mommom and Poppop. Wow, my heart just smile. As a kid, you don’t pay much attention to the characteristics and attributes of people closest to you, let alone yourself. In retrospect, I have always admired the adults in my family. They all had different specialities, but one similar trait, generosity. Read more>>
Markecha Love
I’ve always seen myself as a giver. I am a firm believer in what God tells us in the Bible when he says it’s better to give than receive. I’ve learned that genuine people are hard to come across and life has already dealt some people I bad hand the least you can give a person is a warm smile and kindness. If I can make the difference I will, if I can go the extra mile I do. Read more>>
Shekenah Campbell
My generosity comes from me observing the hard work of others and seeing them not be able to reap the benefits. Growing up I went to school for something in the medical field that guaranteed me a certain lifestyle. I knew many people in the art industry growing up and they didn’t see the income. Art has shaped the tools for me. Art is subjective and I want to see my people gain income for what they are good at. Read more>>
Artisa Felder
My generosity must be attributed to my late grandfather, Frank Felder. He was a man of integrity, he was a flawed man, but a man with a pure heart, if he was able to help you then he would. When I was a young girl the elderly ladies in the neighborhood would pay me to clean their houses for them. When I told him about the money I made that day, he told me “You don’t have to charge someone for everything that you do for them” and that stuck with me. From them on my love for volunteering came and I’ve applied that saying to every area of my life. Read more>>
