One Back

Donating our time or financial assistance to a charitable cause is a very personal endeavor. We may never know the reason that some people leave money for various charities, and we normally wouldn’t question any sense of giving to others.

Sometimes however, I think people do strange things and are not always of sound mind when they make decisions that affect society for years into the future. For example, I’m all for animal welfare and donating to like-minded charities, but when Leona Helmsley leaves billions of dollars to dogs but absolutely nothing to help people, it amazes (and saddens) me.

“Her instructions, specified in a two-page “mission statement,” are that the entire trust, valued at $5 billion to $8 billion and amounting to virtually all her estate, be used for the care and welfare of dogs, according to two people who have seen the document and who described it on condition of anonymity.”

Certainly we have no way of knowing how that money may help so many dogs or possibly increase awareness for animal welfare. Animals and humans at veterinary research hospitals may benefit, and research into canine disease may have some way of helping understand human disease in the future. And maybe some people will benefit or be guided to help animals in a way that betters all of humanity.

But quite honestly I think that’s putting a positive spin on it. Certainly it was her money to do with as she pleased. But it’s such a shame that someone with so much money could not allow various charities or foundations to manage some of it on behalf of the poor, or families struggling in poverty.

We all leave our mark in the world, in one way or another. For most of us, we will never know of the legacy we leave behind. Some people do however, and even during their lives have made a tremendous impact on helping other people. Think of Bill and Melinda Gates, and how their charitable foundation has done so much through the years.

I’m not sure if I’ll leave a legacy or if anything of my life will be much remembered. But I hope so in that it’s remembered for helping other people first. I believe through helping people, we can more effectively help the world around us, including animals.

Filed under: People and Stories