The same day that I got word that my stimulus check was deposited in my bank account, I received mail from the Carter Center who I have supported the past few years.
I am by no means wealthy but I know that there are other Americans who need that stimulus money more than I do right now, so I plan to donate a good portion of the money to charities.
What struck me last week in that mail was the letter (shown below) which asks me NOT to send a contribution to the Center but to direct what I would have given to a local group working to help during this pandemic.
I’m sure that you have also had the experience of donating to a charity organization, college or even a political candidate and then almost immediately received a thank-you accompanied by a request to contribute more.
It’s irrelevant to this post as to what your feelings were or are about Jimmy Carter as a U.S. President. This is meant to be apolitical and non-partisan. I feel confident in saying that he has done more good in the world in his post-Presidency than any other U.S. President.
The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter. It has helped to improve the quality of life for people in more than 80 countries. The Center, in partnership with Emory University, it seeks to prevent and resolve conflicts, enhance freedom and democracy, and improve health.
Think Global and Act Local is a phrase I recall from Earth Days of the past but I believe it for many things.
The Center’s stated goals include believing “that people can improve their own lives when provided with the necessary skills, knowledge, and access to resources.” I agree.
I also agree with their belief that “solving difficult problems requires careful analysis, relentless persistence, and the recognition that failure is an acceptable risk.”
The Center is non‐partisan and it seeks to work collaboratively with other organizations from the highest levels of government to local communities.
The Center’s accomplishments are many and wide-ranging — from leading a coalition that worked on a disease that does not get global attention but can be eliminated to democracy. They worked to reduce the incidence of Guinea worm disease by 99.99 percent, making it likely to be the first human disease since smallpox to be eradicated. They also act as observers in over 105 elections in 39 countries to help establish and strengthen democracies.
It pleases me that the Carter Center uses 91% of its donation towards programs (4% for administration and 5% spent on fundraising). If you look deeper into many well-known charities, you often don’t find that to be true.
The headline on their latest newsletter states: Peace Health Hope. That sums up their goals and my own interest in them pretty well.
If you want to consider helping them, go to CarterCenter.org
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