Improbable Philanthropy - Al Andrews
For years, I have seen pictures of children in need, looking at me from magazines, from television, or from the web. Like most folks, I have been deeply moved by these images. Moved to care. Moved to give. Move to sponsor. Moved to support people who help these kids.
But if I'm honest, I've always felt somewhat helpless when I've seen those photographs. The problems they represented are so huge and my capacity to impact them is seemingly so small. It left me feeling impotent to do anything about it. And for a long time, I stopped there.
And then a few years ago, I watched the guys from Jars of Clay come up with this dream of digging one thousand wells in Africa. While I thought it was quite commendable, I quietly believed it was a bit ambitious - one of those "they really bit off more than they can chew" things. After all, what can four guys in a band do?
More than a thousand wells later, I've learned something from them (and from other radical and generous friends). Things will never happen unless you dream, and dreams won't become realized unless you walk courageously into them. I've also learned that you can begin something before you have all the resources at hand. Sometimes, a person just needs to start.
Three years ago, a dear friend Bob Goff, asked me a question. "What do you dream?" he asked. His question prompted many conversations - conversations that over time ended up with an answer that surprised me. "I dream of being a philanthropist. I want to acquire an abundance of resources to contribute significantly to non-profits that are doing good in the world." If you know me at all, you know that "philanthropist" is not a word used to describe me. Philanthropists are rich. I am not.
But if I've learned the lessons that I claimed to learn about dreaming, then that shouldn't stop me....right?
So I stepped into the dream and started walking - my version of digging the first well.
The first obvious obstacle was trying to figure out how to make a lot of money. The only thing I could come up with was writing a children's book. A few years earlier I'd written a poem that I thought could be turned into the text of a book.
Long story VERY short - I've written the book. It's a picture book called "The Boy, the Kite, and the Wind." I've gotten it illustrated by Jonathan Bouw, self-published it (I figured I could make more money that way) and am now selling it on my website. 100% of the net profits will go to non-profits that are helping kids to take flight. Blood:Water Mission is one of them.
Having sold 1400 books thus far, I'm not in the philanthropy realm yet. Let's just say I've dug several wells. But in the distance, I can see thousands of books being sold, and the profits distributed to people who need it - people like Peter, and his friends and family and a clinic in a little village in Uganda.
When I see Peter's picture, I am reminded that I have plenty. Our family is blessed. We have more than enough. And if we can come up with a plan to increase our wealth, there's really no reason we need to keep it. It's time to give it away.
As you look at this broken world and want to make a difference, what do you dream? And what are all the reasons you've listed that convince you that you can't proceed? Let me encourage you with three words - dig one well.
Blog post written by: Al Andrews - The Improbable PhilanthropistOur dear friend and author Al Andrews has generously committed 100% of the sales of his book "The Boy, The Kite and The Wind," to help men, women and children "take flight." This is a tale about a boy and his kite that reveals a profound truth for all generations. Watch the above video to hear a reading of the book, as told by children of Uganda.
The sales of this book will go to benefit our work in Kitgum so children like Peter see that their story doesn't end with a HIV+ status...their stories are just beginning. By purchasing this book, you can make a direct impact in Kitgum.
- 1 book could cover the costs of 1 HIV Test
- 10 books could provide training materials to 8 community health workers
- 50 books could cover the costs of office supplies and clinic utilities and maintenance
- 100 books could cover the costs of community outreach meetings in 30 communities
- 500 books could stock the pharmacy shelves for 6 months
Blood:Water Mission is focused on transformation, and this is your opportunity to join the discussion with your comments on stories and reports. With that in mind, we simply ask you to
Blood:Water Mission reserves the right to refuse to post any comments based on these criteria and basic principles.
For specific BWM questions and requests involving projects and other things such as volunteering and fundraising please contact our office or email bloodwater@bloodwatermission.com