By Robert Cinnante
From a young age my parents tried to instill in me the importance of giving back. But I never quite understood what that meant. My father, an avid sports fan, loved to share stories of star athletes revisiting the underprivileged neighborhoods of their youth to spend an afternoon coaching a little league team or working in a soup kitchen. I particularly loved the story of the basketball player handing out sneakers to an entire community of kids that might never be able to afford such a luxury otherwise. Stories of celebrity giving make for great news, permeating our perception of charity. Imprinted in our minds are the picture-perfect photo ops of movie stars presenting oversized checks to prestigious charitable foundations or billionaires pledging their fortunes away to grandiose international causes. But benevolence is not and cannot be limited to such a select group. Everyone reading this has the ability to give back. But how, you might ask? Until recently I wrestled with this same question.
In the 2008 presidential election I watched a debate in which both candidates rallied the American people to serve a cause greater than one’s self. I felt inspired but at the same time inadequate. I think I hit the same wall that many come up against; feeling compelled to give but held back by the fear of not being able to give enough. I think this is especially true of young people like myself. We view giving as something to be accomplished later on in life after we’ve reached a certain level of success, comfort, and security. Instead, I urge you to start giving back now. Figure out what it is that you have to offer and share it with those who are less fortunate. Find an organization that speaks to you and give back as you are able. Music for Food is a wonderful organization that allows you to do just that. That could mean a monetary donation to support our efforts. Every donation counts, and you shouldn’t tell yourself otherwise. But there are other ways to get involved. We have multiple opportunities for musicians to show their support by becoming a Music for Food Artist. For non-musicians, or those simply looking to serve in another way, become a volunteer with Music for Food, whether it be helping out at a concert or rehearsal, or seeing if you can contribute your time and talents to our administrative team. Last but certainly not least, I invite you to come to our next concert on February 18th, for it is the audience that forms the backbone of our organization. Your donation at the door: check, cash, or a canned food item, is your entrance fee to the concert, and your ticket to fighting hunger in your own community.
From a young age my parents tried to instill in me the importance of giving back. But I never quite understood what that meant. My father, an avid sports fan, loved to share stories of star athletes revisiting the underprivileged neighborhoods of their youth to spend an afternoon coaching a little league team or working in a soup kitchen. I particularly loved the story of the basketball player handing out sneakers to an entire community of kids that might never be able to afford such a luxury otherwise. Stories of celebrity giving make for great news, permeating our perception of charity. Imprinted in our minds are the picture-perfect photo ops of movie stars presenting oversized checks to prestigious charitable foundations or billionaires pledging their fortunes away to grandiose international causes. But benevolence is not and cannot be limited to such a select group. Everyone reading this has the ability to give back. But how, you might ask? Until recently I wrestled with this same question.
In the 2008 presidential election I watched a debate in which both candidates rallied the American people to serve a cause greater than one’s self. I felt inspired but at the same time inadequate. I think I hit the same wall that many come up against; feeling compelled to give but held back by the fear of not being able to give enough. I think this is especially true of young people like myself. We view giving as something to be accomplished later on in life after we’ve reached a certain level of success, comfort, and security. Instead, I urge you to start giving back now. Figure out what it is that you have to offer and share it with those who are less fortunate. Find an organization that speaks to you and give back as you are able. Music for Food is a wonderful organization that allows you to do just that. That could mean a monetary donation to support our efforts. Every donation counts, and you shouldn’t tell yourself otherwise. But there are other ways to get involved. We have multiple opportunities for musicians to show their support by becoming a Music for Food Artist. For non-musicians, or those simply looking to serve in another way, become a volunteer with Music for Food, whether it be helping out at a concert or rehearsal, or seeing if you can contribute your time and talents to our administrative team. Last but certainly not least, I invite you to come to our next concert on February 18th, for it is the audience that forms the backbone of our organization. Your donation at the door: check, cash, or a canned food item, is your entrance fee to the concert, and your ticket to fighting hunger in your own community.
