Originally Published March 17, 2003 -- Your Wellness
Guide
Why Giving
Matters
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|
With
most people out to make a buck or get as much as they can, I’m
always inspired by those few who sincerely give of themselves and
their resources.
The
amazing thing about people who regularly give is that they seem more
at peace, even richer.
A
few weeks ago, I was interviewing bigger-than-life Grammy winner
Chip Davis of Mannheim Steamroller for my music review. As our
conversation progressed, out came this lovely “giving” story that
had not made its way to the media. |
Chip was
invited by a friend over a year ago to take a tour of the
Fairview-University of Minnesota Hospital, specifically the children’s
cancer center area.
During that
visit he noted that the children in the bone marrow transplant area would
stay six to 12 months in an isolated, sterile part of the hospital, with
little outside stimulation or contact.
A year
later, it dawned on Chip what he could do for those children.
At the time,
Chip was working on a new “Ambience” music series, just completing
“Ambience Summer Song.” The music is meant to be mood changing: listen to
Summer Song in February and trick your mind into thinking that it’s an
enchanting summer.
|
Photo Courtesy: Children's Cancer Research Fund
Dave Cwirko, Tom Hartig, Chip Davis, and Dan Charette install
surround sound systems at Fairview-University of Minnesota Hospital. |
Wanting to make a difference, Chip flew his two sound engineers and
two 5.1 Surround Sound systems (which he donated) to Minneapolis in
his private jet.
They
installed the equipment in two children’s bone marrow transplant
treatment rooms, and the children have been listening to his music
ever since.
“These kids needed a little bit of calming influence around them
when they had given up hope,” says Camie Eugster, past president of
the Children’s Cancer Research Fund (www.childrenscancer.org)
and current board member who watched Chip install the systems and
saw firsthand the after effects. |
“He’s the
most generous man I’ve ever known…he brought in his own people and never
sent us a bill,” says Camie. “All he wants is to hear from the families.”
One child in
particular, a 16-year-old girl suffering from cancer, was placed in one of
the music rooms and finally found peace, says Camie.
The young
girl heard birds, water, wind, ocean -- she felt like she was outside.
Although she passed away, the family says the sounds made such a
difference in her attitude…making the suffering a little easier.
Another
“giving” example is Shelly Cofield, who lost her mother when she was
young.
After
reading a book called
Motherless Daughters: The Legacy of Loss by
Hope Edelman, she knew she had to meet the author.
In 1995,
Shelly found out that Hope would be on NBC’s “Today” show.
Shelly took
the train downtown, held up a 49-cent poster in the rain, and was picked
out of the crowd by Katie Couric. She ended up speaking on live TV about
losing her mother, then was able to meet the author.
“That was a
very powerful day and definitely a turning point in my life,” says Shelly.
From her
makeshift Brooklyn office, Shelly (the founder) now houses what has become
The Mommy Place (718-783-8201), a non-profit organization that is
dedicated to helping young girls who have lost their mothers.
Also helping
children who lost mothers from 9/11, Shelly has been recognized by an
unsung local heroes public service program called The Volvo For Life
Awards (www.volvoforlifeawards.com).
Commenting
on why it’s important to give, Shelly says “You know internally when
something is for you. Everything about The Mommy Place has such a feeling
of warmth and positive vibe that I cannot overlook it. Anytime I was
wavering in my efforts, something would happen to bring me back in and
help my efforts grow. Usually it was through helping one of the little
girls.”
Giving is a
passion. It’s part of who you are and who you become.
Giving
evolves. It becomes bigger than you. And, it usually is part of a chain
effect of people helping people.
Giving
matters because of what everyone gets from it. No paycheck or positive PR
gives you those warm, fuzzy feelings.
Think about
what matters to you today – then, give.
Terra
Wellington
is a
national authority on creating a wellness lifestyle.
www.terrawellington.com
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Wellington