"There never was a person who did anything worth doing, who did not receive more than he gave." - Henry Ward Beecher

American history is replete with examples of pioneers in the field of charity. American philanthropic roots begin with the assistance that Native Americans gave to Christopher Columbus who wrote in his journal that they "manifest such a generosity that they would give away their own hearts." The first settlers at Jamestown and Plymouth survived because of Native American generosity, which is immortalized in the Thanksgiving holiday.

Clara Barton, the founder of the Red Cross, became known as the "angel of mercy" for helping wounded soldiers and setting up soup kitchens across scores of battlefields during the Civil War. Jane Adams established Hull House, a boarding house for the poor, and in 1893 Lillian Wald established the Henry Street Nurses Settlement, which provided health-care services and information to New York's burgeoning immigrant population.

More recently, we have honored those who set standards for giving. Behind the world's sorrow at the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, was admiration for her extensive work in charity. The world also mourned the death of 87-year-old Mother Teresa, who began her selfless work for the poor after she turned 40.

At another level, Time magazine honored billionaire George Soros with a cover story describing his network of foundations that operate in twenty-five countries, including the United States, Central and Eastern Europe and Africa. And Ted Turner gave $1 billion to the United Nations Association because he believes that "there is no greater joy in life than giving to worthy causes."

But you don't have to be a billionaire, a princess, or a candidate for sainthood to give. Americans today are the most democratic givers in recent history. From Bill Gates' multimillion dollar commitment to install computers in public libraries to the coins people toss into Salvation Army kettles at Christmas, Americans at all levels of society, regardless of class, race or ethnicity, give to people.

America is a giving nation at its heart. It is this caring spirit that forms the foundation upon which the best of this nation is built. Americans give to individuals - to family members, friends, and co-workers in need. And they give to more than one million nonprofit organizations which make up America's thriving independent sector. In fact, American individuals contributed $109 billion in 1997, according to Giving USA, of the total $143 billion given to charity.

Giving, however, isn't simply a matter of money. We give when we volunteer. We give when we contribute our experience, our insight and our ideas to worthy causes.

• 7 in 10 American households contribute money to charitable causes.
• Contributing households give about 2 percent of their income to charity.
• The gifts from contributing households averaged $1,017 in 1995.
• Those with the highest income are most likely to give.
• Those with lower incomes and the elderly give the highest percentage of their incomes.
• Corporations that contribute give slightly less than 2 percent of pre- tax earnings, and millions of dollars worth of "in-kind" products and materials.
• Half of American households give to only one organization; one-third of American households give to more than one charitable organization.

In America, Giving Voice to Your Heart is a Public Act.

Content for this page generously donated by Independentsector.Org.