As I spend time looking for jobs in philanthropy or the social sector in Los Angeles, and as the holidays continue, I regularly ponder over the fact that people in San Francisco are givers. At least in my circle. We give our time and money to causes that are designed to improve our communities or the world. We share cars and baby gear and books. In the interest of enhancing what we've learned through our own experiences or making sure our younger co-workers don't have to go through the same hells we've been through, we talk a lot about breaking down silos and we share our knowledge. All things that tend to make me think that people in San Francisco are innately generous.
This belief has been especially enhanced by people I've seen, heard or read lately that live here or at least nearby. For example, yesterday I rode the N Judah Muni to the Renegade Craft Fair and in the 25 minute ride downtown, I witnessed not less than five occurrences of people offering their seats to the elder patrons on-board. On my way back home, I witnessed a guy leaping after someone getting off the train to ensure that whatever the disembarker had dropped did not get left behind. Of course, people embracing the Christmas Spirit does not mean that they are innately generous, I know.
But, you may remember a recent mention of 2,500 people giving enough money to raise $11,600 for Make a Wish at a concert. Of course, I'm sure everyone didn't give but, I gave $3, my companion gave $3 and according to the Conductor, if everyone who was there gave $3 we would have raised $7,500. So, that means that the people who donated gave more than $3. Similarly, at a fundraiser that I participated in earlier this season, we only expected 30 attendees to an event that ended up being sold out and where we raised over $5,000 from women and men who believe in reproductive justice.
But, it's not all about donating money to good causes or giving up a seat on a bus. When I say San Francisco is generous, I'm talking about the neighbor in SOMA who asked someone selling Street Sheet outside of Whole Foods how he was doing and if he had been warm enough as late, since it had been raining. I'm talking about friends and family who posted and rallied behind a woman who had been having a very rough month, getting mugged for her iPhone and denied twice by book publishers. "Keep on truckin'" one Facebooker posted in response. And, I'm talking about the time I lost my wallet in the Mission and someone went through the trouble to contact me using some serious detective powers.
San Francisco is not the only generous place on the planet. I've lived in Wisconsin, where people actually smile and say hi to strangers daily. But, for a city, it certainly feels like its more generous than others. And, for a city in a country that is becoming more generous to the planet it dwells on every day, teaching its kids more and more about giving back, and trying to get back to what made the country great in the first place, it seems that San Francisco may be a leader in all these regards.
This belief has been especially enhanced by people I've seen, heard or read lately that live here or at least nearby. For example, yesterday I rode the N Judah Muni to the Renegade Craft Fair and in the 25 minute ride downtown, I witnessed not less than five occurrences of people offering their seats to the elder patrons on-board. On my way back home, I witnessed a guy leaping after someone getting off the train to ensure that whatever the disembarker had dropped did not get left behind. Of course, people embracing the Christmas Spirit does not mean that they are innately generous, I know.
But, you may remember a recent mention of 2,500 people giving enough money to raise $11,600 for Make a Wish at a concert. Of course, I'm sure everyone didn't give but, I gave $3, my companion gave $3 and according to the Conductor, if everyone who was there gave $3 we would have raised $7,500. So, that means that the people who donated gave more than $3. Similarly, at a fundraiser that I participated in earlier this season, we only expected 30 attendees to an event that ended up being sold out and where we raised over $5,000 from women and men who believe in reproductive justice.
But, it's not all about donating money to good causes or giving up a seat on a bus. When I say San Francisco is generous, I'm talking about the neighbor in SOMA who asked someone selling Street Sheet outside of Whole Foods how he was doing and if he had been warm enough as late, since it had been raining. I'm talking about friends and family who posted and rallied behind a woman who had been having a very rough month, getting mugged for her iPhone and denied twice by book publishers. "Keep on truckin'" one Facebooker posted in response. And, I'm talking about the time I lost my wallet in the Mission and someone went through the trouble to contact me using some serious detective powers.
San Francisco is not the only generous place on the planet. I've lived in Wisconsin, where people actually smile and say hi to strangers daily. But, for a city, it certainly feels like its more generous than others. And, for a city in a country that is becoming more generous to the planet it dwells on every day, teaching its kids more and more about giving back, and trying to get back to what made the country great in the first place, it seems that San Francisco may be a leader in all these regards.
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