Almost as quickly as the candy disappeared from doorstep bowls on Halloween night, we’ve arguably found ourselves in the “most wonderful time of the year.”
Yet nestled somewhere between the blur of twinkling lights and carols on FM repeat, meandering checkout lanes and making lists (and checking them twice!), there is another more meaningful side of the season that ties it all together for many of us — that of giving.
According to a 2021 report, giving in October, November and December accounts for 37% of all the year’s charitable donations. It is indeed the season of giving — and for many of us, charitable giving is a favorite way to deliver joy to those in need.
But why? Researchers have pondered the science behind giving for years and time, and again concluded that giving tends to be driven not by the head but by the heart. We are moved to help people, the faces behind the gift we give, hoping it will make a difference. Giving is a way to improve the world — nonprofit organizations do that work every day.
Simply put, a nonprofit organization is a business that does not generate profit for its owners but furthers a shared mission or goal — usually a social cause or an underserved group of people.
They rely on donations, contributions and grants to carry out their work. Nonprofits often meet a need that state and federal governments cannot, and the list of people they serve is endless: children, veterans, immigrants, those facing food and housing insecurities, victims of natural disasters, or even — as in the case of The Hickman — our older loved ones.
Nestled among the tree-lined streets of downtown West Chester, The Hickman is a thriving nonprofit personal care community rooted in Quaker principles and traditions that value all life and welcome diversity.
For over a century, The Hickman has been dedicated to caring for seniors, regardless of their means, in a compassionate way that recognizes and respects their individuality. What began as a vision by two forward-thinking women, Sallie Sharpless, and Lydia Hall, to offer refuge for older, single women without families to care for them, The Hickman has since grown from a tradition of generous giving that began decades ago and continues to this day.
Archives show that in 1892, The Hickman’s first capital campaign saw donations ranging from $1 to $34. Today, those donations would equal $34 to $17,000! Later, in 1935, Nathaniel G. Hickman left over $1 million to The Hickman in his will — a gift that still supports residents at The Hickman.
To give you an idea of how extraordinary this gift was at the time, that $1 million donation is the equivalent of over $33 million today.
So, to whom does your heart lead you to give? As you can see, any gift — however large or small — holds the power to change lives both today and for years to come.
The Hickman is a senior living community located in the heart of West Chester. Guided by Quaker principles and traditions that value all life and welcome diversity, The Hickman offers individualized care allowing older adults the opportunity to enjoy a productive life and to explore the richness of all of life’s possibilities.
