People and Places Philanthropy
Non-profit Superheroes in the time of the Pandemic
By Adriene Rockwell The word “philanthropy” comes from ancient Greek and means “love of humanity.” An entire sector of thriving organizations are built around this vital concept. It is a great mystery how these Zeus-like entities came to be called “nonprofit” organizations, because the label focuses on what these organizations don’t do, rather than what they actually do – which is to dramatically change the world for the better. Without hubris or glory, these superheroes improve the quality of our lives, save our planet, educate our children, inspire spiritual meaning, cure disease, engage us in art, rescue animals, and among other herculean feats, feed us when we are hungry. They are not myths. These are fierce, strong organizations that lift civilizations. They are smart, nimble and strategic, with powerful leaders that get things done – even in the face of a global pandemic. 12 • Benicia Magazine
The spirit of service and giving goes back to the beginning of humanity, but in the U.S. it became more prominent during the Civil War, when many new charities sprung up. With the industrial age came a surge of big companies dealing in automobiles, rail, steel and oil. And with that came big philanthropists like Andrew Carnegie, Henry Ford and John D. Rockefeller. During WWI, organizations like the Red Cross grew, and in 1917 legislation was enacted to give Americans tax write-offs for their charitable donations. Philanthropy continued to evolve and grow in response to the second world war, the civil rights movement, environmental concerns and so much more. In this moment of global crisis, cause-driven organizations are on the front lines across the country, and in Benicia, pivoting and adapting to meet the growing needs of our communities. Most are working twice as smart, with half the resources. Here
