The Importance of Being There

Life has an interesting way of reminding us about what is really important.

I was set down one of these paths recently when one of my daughters moved abroad with her fiancé.  I can still remember the excitement and nervousness as we saw them off at the airport.  Leaving on a Saturday evening flight, they would not arrive in Sydney until Monday morning.  

With a little more than a week before starting work, they decided to spend a day or two catching up on sleep and sightseeing before focusing their attention on finding an apartment.  They soon learned that the only thing as high as the apartment lease prices in Sydney is the stress level associated with getting one.  I won’t bore you with the details, but suffice it to say that apartment hunting in Sydney is somewhat of a competitive sport.

A few weeks (and a couple of failed leasing efforts) later, it was easy to tell that their grand adventure was not off to a very good start.  While I knew they could (and would) work it all out on their own, I also felt that a little moral support at this point would go a very long way.  So, off I went on my own Saturday night flight to Sydney.

In the end, I had virtually nothing to do with their finding a place and getting settled.  They set the schedule, chose the places to visit, worked out all the application details, talked to the agents and made all the decisions.  Other than being their driver (they weren’t quite ready to drive on the “wrong” side of the road), I was just there to listen, to hug, to share the experience…to “be there” for them.  I’m so glad that I was able to be a part of their grand adventure.

So what does this family story have to do with Philanthropegie?  Everything.

What this experience reminded me of was the importance of being there for people when they need us, in whatever way they need us.  And that is exactly what Philanthropegie is all about.

We believe that the best way for us to make a difference is to help people make their dreams for a better world come true.  In other words, by being there for the people who want to help, we hope to be there for the people who need help.