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.
Maxwell Felman
I believe my generosity comes from when I was a young kid that had a baby sister and was fortunate enough to have plenty growing up. I was always told to share with my sister and to share with my friends. After awhile, I learned to appreciate the look on their faces when I would share toys or snacks. I think that positive reaction of what my actions and influences could bring about in those around me became a sensation I could not stop striving for. Read more>>
Sean Mungin
My generosity comes from a deep belief in others. I believe that with support and kindness that people can achieve incredible things. Thats why I strive to be kind and supportive of everyone, knowing even small acts of compassion can have a lasting impact. Read more>>
Kelly Campbell
My parents taught me to be generous with my time, talents, and treasure, and they showed me that generosity is about more than grand gestures—it’s a way of life. My dad, a business owner of 20+ years, always went above and beyond for his clients, employees, family, and friends. He’s the kind of person who doesn’t hesitate to roll up his sleeves and make things happen. Whether it was planning unforgettable family trips, organizing events, or simply being the rock for our family during challenging times, he led by example. I remember a time when one of his employees faced a family tragedy. Without a second thought, my dad stepped in, not only offering financial support but also dedicating his time to help them navigate their difficult situation. He never sought recognition or praise—it was simply his way of doing what he believed was right. Read more>>
Felipe Diaz
I think my generosity comes from my ability to understand I have made mistakes and those mistakes I have changed from and would love to share those stories with others. That gives me the ability to have a general understanding for our human conditions. Read more>>
Jewel Elizabeth
My generosity stems from reflecting on the things I lacked while building my career. I didn’t have a mentor, and I had to rely on creating my own connections, paving the way for myself. As I’ve grown in the industry, I’ve wanted to give back to younger versions of myself. I’ve also come to understand that generosity is multi-channel; it’s also about being there for others, offering support, connecting them with changemakers or just providing a listening ear. I’ve been fortunate to have friends and mentors who supported me during tough times, and that inspired me to do the same for others. Read more>>
Erika Caldwell
Believe it or not, I have always been a very generous/kind person. It is something I can say is very natural to me. A God given gift, but it took a while for me to see it as a blessing! When I was younger, I looked at it as a sign of being weak or being a push over, but now that I am older it is one of the characters that God wants us to have! Trying to be and naturally being a generous person is two entirely different things! Trying to be a generous person can cause resentment, stress & frustration, but when you understand that you are kind and generous out of the goodness of your heart you don’t expect anything in return you understand it. I also used to think that my kindness/generosity was a genetic thing (lol) my father’s side of the family are really kindhearted and genuinely nice people! But as I got older, I realized that it is a God given gift! We are to treat others how we want to be treated even if you are not receiving the same treatment! Read more>>
Sandra Canizares
God have blessed my family in so many ways! I feel the need and the call to give back. I love to be helpful in any way I can. I love to inspire people and to be there for them. And to be an example for my kids. Read more>>
Helen Goodvin
Generosity was instilled in me from an early age. I grew up in a household shaped by the profound experiences of my parents—my Ethiopian-born mother, a theology PhD queen and international real estate investor, and my late father, an international civil engineer raised on a farm and rooted in the values of the silent generation. They met in Ethiopia, and their lives were marked by both the challenges of war and loss, and the strength found in community and resourcefulness. Everything they had was shared, and they taught me that abundance lies not in possessions but in connection and culture. Read more>>
Staci Oswald
I have been fortunate throughout my life to have met other women who have mentored and supported me, and it is my mission to pay that forward wherever I can. Read more>>
Lauryn Strobel
My generosity was inspired by my Oma (grandmother), a woman whose kindness and selflessness shaped my understanding of what it means to give. She showed me that true wealth lies in lifting others up and creating opportunities for those in need. Following her example, I’ve made it a core value of my business to donate a minimum of 3% of our profits to social and environmental charities. These contributions support causes that align with my vision of a better world—one where everyone has the chance to thrive, be happy, and prosper. Giving back is more than a responsibility; it’s a privilege and a way to honor the values passed down to me. Read more>>
Necolle Williams
I definitely dedicate this to my late grandmother Theodosia. Loosing her back in October 2024 I didn’t realize how much I was truly like her until so many things came to my remembrance.
Walking into her house the smells of good food and warmth were painted on the walls. She would offer you a hot meal and you definitely walked out with something you did or didn’t need. Read more>>
Stephen Graham King
That’s an easy one. My parents. They lived through World War II and the Blitz in the UK before emigrating to Canada in 1950. And when they arrived, they had nothing. There were many times that they only survived because people who had just met them were kind to them and helped them. And they never forgot that. The modelled that behaviour to me and to my sisters. I remember a time when I was a kid. We’d been out at the lake camping and it rained and was miserable all weekend. There was a young couple in a tent in the next site over and they’d had a rough weekend. My parents invited them back into town to our house for lunch and to use the shower before they went on their way. And I think that was the first time I heard them say “You don’t have to pay us back. Someone, someday will need your help. Help them when the time comes.” I learned the concept of “Pay it forward” before it entered popular culture. Read more>>
Brenda Mcgregor
I believe generosity has always been a part of who I am—it feels innate. That quality was further nurtured by my parents, who instilled in us the importance of helping others who were less fortunate.
Over time, my understanding of generosity has evolved. Early in my life, I realized that my giving was often influenced by a desire to please others or to be liked. That desire sometimes played a role in the choices I made, whether it was giving money, gifts, time, or expertise. After doing personal work to better understand myself, I uncovered how often generosity had become an automatic response—I was giving without thinking it through or considering the deeper reasons behind my actions. Read more>>
Indie P. Jones
I wish I could point to a single defining moment, a single instance in time, that helped create the person I am today, but that’s not how real life works. I grew up in the 80’s as the youngest of three daughters to a hardworking Southern single mama that struggled to keep a roof over our heads and food on our plates. As a bonafide member of Gen X, I was told frequently by my mama that I should be grateful for the fried baloney sandwiches and generic corn flakes we had to eat, because there were starving kids in Africa that would walk barefoot for ten miles to have such a wealth of food. Instead of making me grateful for the riches on my plate, I was instead consumed with guilt that I had so much and others had so little. I was raised by my large Catholic family to believe that no matter how bad things were for you, there was always someone else who had it worse, and it was our moral responsibility to offer any help or hand up in case we needed the same in return someday. Read more>>
