Bar Foundation

Last month, I wrote an appeal for charitable giving during the holiday season, which is now upon us. By and large, and as a society, we have all agreed that this is the ‘season of giving.’ As I reread that article, I found myself asking why is that? What is it about this season that prompted gift-giving at this time of year in the first place?

As I stepped into this rabbit hole, I read several articles noting that not only does giving among friends and family occur, but that studies (albeit un-cited) have shown that charitable giving during these two months is more than one-third of the total giving that occurs annually. Some speculate that accountants and tax breaks are to blame for this, but a quick look at history shows that the reality seems more complex than that.

Historically, people seem quick to try to connect gift-giving with the Christmas story, tying giving to the three wise men in the story of Jesus’ birth. The more jaded among us point to corporate capitalism and marketing blasting us into oblivion trying to sell their wares, but these too don’t quite match with historical precedent.

A long story short, I found that books have been written on this subject matter, some concerning the transition of the monk St. Nicholas (from what is now Turkey) to the Dutch Sinterklaas, to the character of Clement Clarke Moore. Some scholars focus on the role of socio-economic disparity in what is now New York City in the 1700s, and others point at the history of wassailing in northern Europe, as an outgrowth of pagan rituals. Put simply, while all agree that by the 1820s the American toy industry pushed giving toys to children, there is no clear answer on why exactly the concept of giving during this time of year is so ubiquitous.

After wasting far too much time reading these books, scouring the Internet, and watching crackpot theories on YouTube, it was another article that piqued my interest by a PhD of psychology and neuroscience, citing peer reviewed studies and MRI data, which looked at the physiological ways that giving impacts the brain. It turns out that

giving is actually born of a complex range of emotions. For some it is the result of empathy, for others guilt, and still others take their cues from social pressures.

It truly seems that the origins of giving are a mystery, but nearly all report that the “warm fuzzy” feelings that come from giving are similar to those of receiving. So here’s my appeal for the month: Give. The LCBF would be grateful for your donations to further its mission and to give back to our Lake County community, but there are many other worthy causes sponsored by members of our legal community, from Angel Trees to community food banks. All are worthy causes, and all deserve your support.

I wish you and yours a happy and safe holiday season, and best wishes for 2023!

BOARD OF TRUSTEES Douglas Dorando President Kristie Fingerhut Vice President Perry Smith, Jr. Treasurer Joan Fratianni Secretary Nicholas Riewer Past President Jennifer L. Ashley Nandia Black Scott Gibson David Gordon Keith Grant Louise Hayes Fredric Lesser Steven McCollum Hon. Michael Nerheim Michael Ori Shyama Parikh John Quinn, Sr. Eric Rinehart Melanie Rummel David Stepanich Carey Schiever

BY DOUGLAS DORANDO PRESIDENT