I used to be a “December 24th kind of guy.” In fact, I used to brag about it. “I don’t start Christmas shopping until Christmas Eve,” I would tell everyone. The reasons were only logical: I was working and too busy to devote time to shopping until I had a day off; I work (shop) best under pressure; and, most items were already picked over, so I had fewer choices and, therefore, not entangled in the “paradox of choice.”
Of course, all those reasons are selfish, and they blissfully ignore the fact that my lovely wife did the lion’s share of Christmas shopping for the family (i.e. me).
Secretly, however, I would admire my wife and others who were able to boast, sometime around November 30, “I have all my Christmas shopping done!” I, of course, would outwardly scoff at such a remark and tell them how much time they’ve wasted going to stores day after day, week after week, while I only had to devote several precious hours to the “chore.”
The better the giving, the better the feeling
As I have matured (questionable, according to my wife), I have realized the folly of my jolly. Waiting until the 24th really is selfish and it doesn’t permit me to put any thought into my gift. All I would do is show up at the big box store and buy whatever caught my eye in my moment of panic. The result was nothing particularly special on Christmas morning. When I would open a gift to me and realize the forethought put into the gift by the giver and how it was probably something I had casually mentioned months before that I would enjoy, that pang of guilt hit me on the head like a huge lump of coal. Like Ebenezer Scrooge, I would finally recognize that it’s better to give than to receive, and the better the giving, the better the feeling.
I’m far from being a great Christmas shopper even today, but I currently give much more thought to it and in recent years have finished my shopping at least a week, or sometimes two, before Christmas Eve. My gifts have been more meaningful, and the feelings enjoyed by my gift recipient hopefully equal or exceed the joy I feel in making the gift.
This is why I’m talking about Christmas in August. It’s time we all get on the ball and start looking for those perfect treasures for those whom we treasure.
A gift for someone who has everything
I’d like to suggest a gift for you to give that really checks all the boxes – especially for the person who already has everything: an endowment fund at Marion Community Foundation. And before you think such a gift is only for the wealthy, think again. You can actually start an endowment fund at Marion Community Foundation for as little as $100. True, you’ll have to build the fund to a more significant amount over time, but, hey, adding to the gift each year is easy and checks it off the list annually without having to stress over what to give your loved one.
An endowment fund will allow you to make a gift of a permanent legacy to your parent, child, sibling, friend, or other loved one. And the rest of the family can easily join in the gift by contributing to the endowment fund at any time, but especially on holidays and special occasions. The endowment will bear that person’s name and annually make a grant or scholarship award in that person’s name to a young scholar or charitable organization that will be forever grateful to you. It really is the best kind of gift because it’s a gift that keeps on giving.
We’ve had a few families choose this type of gift. One of the more recent ones is when the children of Jack and Marilyn Andrews gave an endowment fund to their parents. It really is heartwarming to see the good cheer on everyone’s faces – the recipients and the givers – when the gift is made.
It’s not too early to plan this gift. Please call me and let’s set a time to talk about the many options you have when creating an endowment fund. I promise you the meeting will only be to give you information about your options (no “sales pressure”) and how we can even help you “gift package” it.
“For You. For Marion. Forever.” is the refrain at Marion Community Foundation, whose mission is to continually improve the Marion area through philanthropy, leadership, and civic engagement. The Foundation works to achieve its vision of a generous, educated, healthy, collaborative, and vibrant community.
Dean Jacob is president & CEO of Marion Community Foundation, which celebrates its 25th year in 2023. For more information about grants and scholarships, or to donate to, or create, an endowment fund, visit www.MarionCommunityFoundation.Org.
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