Sometimes when I am walking down the street and encounter a person that is homeless or poor, I find myself with an uncomfortable feeling. If there are a group of homeless people gathered, I may even cross to the other side of the street. This is not something I am proud of or consciously decide in advance. It just happens. The other day, I was walking downtown near dusk and I encountered such a person. His clothes were dirty; he was unshaven and unkempt. He was pushing a shopping cart and talking to himself. Actually, he was yelling. His cart was full with contents of soiled clothes, boxes, soda cans, plastic bags, magazines and newspapers. I quickly realized that he was oblivious to me and his shouting was intended for any and all to hear. As I uncomfortably walked by him, I thought about his life. He was in a totally different world than me. He is in a world where he measures his future hour by hour or day to day. He had no real concept of how his words or actions impact others. Moving passed him, I wondered how he had arrived at this juncture in life. Was it drugs or alcohol, sickness, mental illness, unemployment or other afflictions that render him a statistic or consequence of poverty?
Then I questioned if his circumstances run deeper and longer than those of situational poverty. I wondered if he was born into poverty, grew up in foster care or an institution, and has been a product of poverty his entire life. Did he receive an inadequate education? Was he ever truly loved or embraced by a parent, or knew and had the support of a family unit? I wondered if he was an example of the many root causes of poverty that exist, and he is just living the next stage of his life, a stage that leaves him with few choices.
I continued thinking. How many children are on the same journey as this man? Have we done all that we can do to insure that our next generation of poor children won’t end up pushing a shopping cart and living on the street? This may be an extreme example, but my point is that most people don’t just wake up one morning and find themselves living in poverty. There is a reason they have ended up there and quite often their failures may be out of their personal control.
Poverty is systemic and it is pervasive and it starts at birth for many. Those of us interested in eradicating poverty must start early and intervene often. It is too late to make the impact needed, if we wait to intervene at the homeless shelters, food banks or free medical clinics. We can help deal with problems at those places but we won’t prevent them from happening. A lot of our energy and emphasis needs to be with children. They need to start learning earlier. They need adequate food. They need consistent and ongoing health care. They need caring teachers to help shepherd them through school and not give up on them no matter how limited the resources are or how far behind they get. They need the support of families, communities, churches and civic organizations. They need to know that just because they live in a deprived neighborhood or poor school district, they will have opportunities to be taught by talented and committed educators and, yes, if they work hard, they will have a chance to further their education. It is called hope. Hope breeds self-esteem. Self-esteem breeds talent and talent is what we need in this world.
So the man on the street may or may not have had a real chance. But there are plenty of people that do have a chance and have potential if we can help them find it. But it really needs to begin when a child opens his or her eyes at birth. Then each hour and each day is built from a foundation that provides for opportunity and success. If we commit to these goals for all children then fewer of them will be pushing shopping carts on the streets and looking for a place to sleep at night.
Tom Keith is the president of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina
We are driving through the Pee Dee of South Carolina where the roads are narrow and the pine trees are tall. We pass cotton fields, tobacco farms, and get a true taste of rural South Carolina. We make our way to Marlboro County. We enter the community of Bennettsville. It is the boyhood home of legendary banker Hugh McColl. Bennettsville, South Carolina, mirrors many small rural communities in the South. The town is busy but there are signs and examples that it has seen better days from dilapidated buildings, closed businesses, empty stores and warehouses, vacant homes and abandoned cars and equipment.
We arrive at Marlboro County High School. It has been a while since I have been in a high school. It is remarkably clean. I begin my experience with a positive feeling. The Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina is here to listen to students about issues they face in their lives and in their community. We want their perspective on things. A mixture of Foundation board and staff has traveled to the “listening session.” We meet the principal who is professional, well spoken and very engaged with his students. They like him too; you can tell by the way they interact. Then we meet the students. I am not really sure what I expected, but I know I got a whole lot more than I anticipated from these kids. The students gathered and we broke into small groups. I had seven at my table and we just talked. Every one of them had aspirations to do great things. One wanted to be a lawyer. Another one to be an accountant then another wanted to be a psychologist. But their dreams were tempered. They realized that their dreams were certainly unprecedented because they would be the first in their families to attend college. They also acknowledged that the hill to climb to get an education beyond high school and to get a good job was going to be steep. They all said they would have to move away from Marlboro County to be successful. But they might come back later to “give back to the community.” The students love the community and they love their school. They love their families and participate in many school and church activities. But the town has little to offer. No jobs, no recreation and an unwillingness to change, coupled with a lack of vision for the future. I offered each student an imaginary $1,000 to spend to help others. They chose scholarships for needy students, temporary assistance for needy families, feeding the hungry and helping the elderly. One wanted to spend his money on bringing the community stakeholders together to create a common vision for the town. Wow! If this group is representative of what our next generation is going to be like, then I am not worried at all. They will do just fine and perhaps better than we have done. They have a vision for their lives and their community and are willing to change things to make life better for other people. All we have to do is remove the obstacles we have placed in front of them and create a pathway for the next generation to reach their goals and dreams. If that happens, then towns like Bennettsville, South Carolina, do have a future.
Tom Keith is the president of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina
The Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina’s 2009 Annual Report highlights the work of the Foundation throughout 2009.
Last year was a dynamic year for the Foundation, as it finalized its strategic plan, updated its mission statement and created a vision that families in South Carolina have the resources to live out of poverty. Learn about the over $2.1 million in grants, the five-year anniversary of the Collaboration for Ministry Initiative, the 103 nonprofit organizations served through the Learning Academy, advocacy efforts around reauthorization of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) legislation and much more in this report.
Today, August 28, is the Feast Day of St. Augustine, Bishop of Hippo in North Africa and one of the doctors of the Church. St. Augustine overcame strong heresies, practiced great poverty and supported the poor, preached very often and prayed with great fervor.
In 1851 four Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine (CSA) Sisters embarked on a two week voyage from France to Cleveland, Ohio. This began 156 years of service by hundreds of dynamic religious women responding to unmet needs of people in Ohio and South Carolina. Long before the American workplace widely accepted women in professional roles, these Sisters were directing major health care institutions, teaching in schools and developing new programs to provide needed human services. The first CSAs in America served as the first public health nurses in Cleveland, Ohio. Led by a mission to continue Christ’s healing ministry, the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine have built a legacy of caring that continues today.
The health and human service ministries of the CSA Congregation are now overseen by the Sisters of Charity Health System. The Health System embodies the values and philosophy of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine and their mission to continue the healing ministry of Jesus Christ. The Health System provides oversight, leadership and strategic direction to more than 20 ministries in Ohio and South Carolina. In South Carolina there are five ministries: Providence Hospital, Providence Hospital Northeast, South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families, Healthy Learners and Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina.
St. Augustine's Prayer to the Holy Spirit Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy. Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy. Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy. Amen.
In Catholicism, Feast Days, or Holy Days, are days which are celebrated in commemoration of the sacred events recorded in the history of our redemption, in memory of the Virgin Mother of Christ, or of His apostles, martyrs and saints, by special services and rest from work. Catholic saints are holy people and human people who lived extraordinary lives. Each saint the Church honors responded to God's invitation to use his or her unique gifts. God calls each one of us to be a saint.
Our first leadership class graduated last week at a special ceremony at Columbia College. There were nine individuals that went through the year long program. The participants were exposed to an array of topics, top notch lecturers, robust discussions and, yes, a fair amount of homework to complete.
These individuals (8 women and 1 man) made a lot of sacrifices to accomplish the goal of attaining a certificate in nonprofit leadership and nine hours of graduate level credit from Columbia College. They met every month for a year and they did this all while working a full-time job and managing all the other responsibilities they have in their lives. I was impressed.
At the ceremony, I saw family members, lecturers, mentors and friends come and celebrate the success of these individuals. There was a feeling of pride in that room that really was contagious. The chosen class speaker, Beck Sullivan, did an extraordinary job with her speech. She represented the class members so well. These leaders will go back to work better prepared for the many challenges they face on a daily basis. They will also be poised to address long-range organizational direction and plans which are often hard to do when you are dealing with the day to day minutia.
The other thing I really witnessed in this inaugural year was the bonding that occurred among the nonprofit leaders. They have grown to love and respect each other. They have learned about family and work challenges and feel a part of each other’s lives. More importantly, they have learned a lot of useful and practical information from each other during this one year period. They have learned what works well and what does not. They have learned to be flexible and to think differently than before. They have, indeed, become better leaders.
In the end, we were all proud. We are proud of the individual accomplishments, we are proud of our Foundation team for orchestrating the program. We are proud of Columbia College and their wonderful commitment to the program and we are proud of the overall concept and how it went from a crumpled sheet of paper in 2007 to our first graduation in 2010.
The second class comes into get started this week. If they are half as passionate and committed as the first class, I will be happy. I can’t wait to see them and I can’t wait to watch them grow and bond.
Pictured from left to right: Laurie Hopkins, Ph.D. (Columbia College), Vanassa Frazier (Christ Teens), Cecilia Meggs (Lighthouse Ministries), Betsy Marlow (Miss Ruby’s Kids), Preston Winkler (Greater Columbia Community Relations Council), Dorothy Priester (Cherokee County First Steps), Beck Sullivan (Municipal Association of South Carolina), Lila Anna Sauls (St. Lawrence Place), Tom Keith (Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina) and Katrina Spigner (Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina) at the August 6, 2010, graduation.
Tom Keith is the president of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina
I was recently thinking about how funders invest to make their communities better. Often, foundations’ decisions are dictated by what is presented before them in terms of responsive grantmaking or by selective strategies that proactively affect an issue. Both of these methods have value and, in most instances, benefit the community. But as we look to the future in philanthropy, we must really begin to ask ourselves the question about what is next? Or what should we be looking to accomplish beyond the normal systems in which we operate? I recently watched a program where Jeff Bezos, president and chief executive officer of Amazon, was interviewed about the Kindle which is the latest version of a device that serves as a method to read books. You can download books in no time, it has a 30 hour battery, you can easily read a book using the device and it is relatively small, and all this for only $139. In the interview, Bezos was asked about philanthropy. I thought his philosophy was interesting. He believes that in some cases, for profit models can improve the world more effectively than philanthropic models. They should want to invest in places where there are clear market failures. The example he used was vaccines. “Well, vaccines need to be refrigerated. In poor places, there is no refrigeration and there is no electricity for refrigeration. Shouldn’t philanthropy be looking, through research and development, for ways to develop vaccines that don’t need refrigeration or battery powered refrigerators?” This is an interesting take. I guess there is no incentive for big pharmaceutical companies to develop these types of vaccines because the money flows through developed countries that have electricity. But the whole discussion peaked my interest. I think the whole field of philanthropy should be much more creative and much more forward thinking. We have to find and invest in new and innovative ways of helping the poor and disadvantaged. The old model does some good, but it is not enough good. Foundations must do a better job of thinking and problem solving at a different level. We cannot wait for government or private industry to be the innovators, particularly when it comes to the underserved. As times continue to be difficult and individuals and families struggle now more than ever, we must become our very own think tank. If we don’t take the time and give the energy to developing new ideas and methods for our work then it is simply not going to happen. So, to me, the next phase of philanthropy should be about creative innovation and, yes, we need to be willing to help pay for it too.
Tom Keith is the president of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina
It is likely you’ve heard of Web sites like Myspace, Facebook and YouTube. These types of tools, referred to as social media or Web 2.0, allow individuals and organizations to shift fluidly and flexibly between the roles of audience and author. By integrating technology, social interaction and words and images, social media allows people to share opinions, insights, experiences and perspectives with each other.
The types of social media are broad and are still being created, which may cause those unfamiliar with the tools to be overwhelmed by the possibilities. But the key to understanding all social media is that it is the great leveler where users no longer just take in information that is supplied to them, but interact with that information, rate it and upload their own.
Social networking sites have received a lot of attention from the nonprofit world because they align with nonprofits' desire to reach out to larger communities. What’s more, most sites are free, making them an economical choice for effective marketing. When deciding whether or not to participate in social media, there are a few things to consider.
Audiences have shifted online. Consumers are taking control of how, what and where they access information. According to Neilson, in June 2010 three of the world’s most popular online brands are social media related: Facebook, YouTube and Wikipedia, and the average visitor spends 66% more time on these sites than a year ago (6 hours in April 2010 versus 3 hours, 31 minutes last year).
There are more than 100 million unique impressions delivered on networks like Myspace and Facebook per month. Facebook added its 500-millionth member this year. The site now has users on every continent, with half of them logging in at least once a day. Chances are people are already online talking about you; join them.
It is a good way to build support, build your database and promote specific actions, like donating to a cause, writing your congressman on an issue or attending an event. Once you connect with a contact, friend or fan, you are also connected to their list of contacts and friends, and their contacts and friends. Essentially, you are accessing the means of exponential growth as 10 of your contacts connect with 10 contacts (10x10=100) and then 10 more contacts (10X100=1,000). For those organizations that do not have a Web site, it is an easy way to establish a simple and fluid web presence.
For a better perspective, check out this video on the social media revolution.
Web 2.0 replaces the idea of a Web site as a static brochure on the internet and instead transforms your Web site into a community in which you can share your voice, your vision and your brand. It does have the potential to reach new people, including new donors or supporters of your organization.
It is, however, a conversation and if you are not committed to upholding your end of the conversation, then it doesn’t make sense to launch into social media. It requires regular maintenance and updating in order to keep the content fresh and attractive to visitors.
The Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina embraces social media with this blog and through a presence on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. The Foundation began publishing this blog in 2008. Through the blog, the Foundation shares thoughts and news on the Foundation, philanthropy and the plight of poverty in South Carolina.
The Foundation has a profile on LinkedIn, a professional networking site, and a Facebook page. The Foundation also uses Twitter to send 140 character updates, called tweets, to its followers which include legislators, nonprofit and community leaders and media outlets. It is another way for the Foundation to continue to build awareness, network and share its impact. While the current followers may not reach the masses, these tools have led to stories about the Foundation on other organizations’ Web sites, blogs and electronic newsletters.
Despite all of the trends and excitement around social media, many organizations struggle with getting executive buy-in to social media strategies. If there is difficulty in getting understanding and buy-in, discuss social media in the context of the mission of the organization and how it can help achieve the organizations goals, rather than the new and cool factor of the tools.
Conduct internet searches and see what is currently out there about your organization. If there is negative information or worse, no information, show the appropriate persons and have a social media plan to combat current online content and spread your organization’s message. Better yet, see what the competition is doing. Are they reaching audiences and participating in social media? Is your organization left behind?
Recommend more than one platform. If top executives can’t grasp the benefit of YouTube, offer another platform and encourage participation.
Lastly, provide examples of success stories from organizations using social media. In the Society for New Communications 2008 report titled “New Media, New Influencers & Implications for Public Relations” the Mayo Clinic notes that by launching a podcast campaign to share the stories of its customers and advocates and knowledge of its experts, the Clinic significantly increased traffic to its Web site and enhanced its influence.
Another case study in the same report focuses on the American Red Cross and the aftermath of the effects of social media following the Hurricane Katrina disaster in 2005. At that time the American Red Cross was not participating in social media and was unprepared to respond to the criticisms online, much of it incorrect and misinformation. The Red Cross now has a disaster portal where it creates all of its disaster-focused RSS (syndication) feeds, a blog called Red Cross Chat, a Flickr community where people can share their photographs online and uses Twitter to update followers with alerts during a disaster.
Social media is timely and can influence action. For example, with the recent BP oil spill a Facebook Cause Page was set up called Help Wildlife Impacted by the BP Oil Spill and raised over $67,000 in a short time.
The importance of being social isn’t new. It builds understanding, fosters trust, develops relationships and can act as a catalyst for change. Social media does the same and allows organizations to expand their audience, discover others who share or support a similar interest and creates an online network of contacts and supporters. Go where the conversation is happening: What you give up in control you may gain in valuable information that you didn’t already know.
Brooke Bailey is the director of communications and public policy for the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina
In response to God’s call and in the spirit of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine, the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina strategically uses resources to reduce poverty through action, advocacy and leadership. The Foundation furthers its mission through initiatives, grantmaking, education, capacity building, advocacy and measuring the outcomes of these efforts.
