Women Religious Are a Gift to All of Us

I recently attended a three-day conference with a group of women religious (nuns) who minister in South Carolina. The theme for the meeting was “story telling.” It seems simple enough, but it’s not so simple for these women. They have dedicated their lives to religious life and follow a very humble and unselfish doctrine which is an integral part of their Catholic upbringing.

While many of their stories may go untold, they have plenty of stories to share. Most of them have lived very meager lives with very few possessions, all while dedicating their energy and time to God. If you think about it, these women have made significant sacrifices that most of us can’t really imagine. These Sisters have done so much to make our world a better place. They have started hospitals and orphanages, fought for social justice and supported humanitarian efforts worldwide. They have taught in schools, become nurses, counselors, social workers, doctors, pharmacists, hospital administrators and much more. Although Sisters are ambitious, dedicated and want to accomplish a lot, these goals are always tempered with a spiritual peace and sincere compassion for others that makes for a perfect balance.

The unfortunate truth about the vocation of women religious is that it is rapidly declining. In its heyday in the 1960s there were more than 180,000 women religious in the United States, but today, in 2008, that number is under 60,000. What’s more, the average age of a nun in South Carolina is 68 and the national average is 70. A documentary “Crossroads” was released earlier this year and depicts the history of religious life and focuses on three ministries in South Carolina. It asks the difficult question, “What’s next for women religious?” The answer is unclear and complicated.

The first hope is that many young women will take to religious life and infuse new blood into this vocation. There are religious orders in other parts of the world such as Africa and India that are recruiting many young women into the religious life. Unfortunately, this is not the case in the United States. There are now more options for women, and many Catholic women today have chosen not to make the sacrifices embracing this vocation that many women religious have made in the past. The work of women religious and their ministries must be transitioned to lay leaders and others to carry on the work when there are no longer Sisters to lead these organizations. While the decline in Sisters in this country may not be an issue today, it will become a major dilemma in the next 10 to 20 years.

If you stop for a minute and think about Sisters and what they have sacrificed and what they have accomplished, it is mind boggling. Through the Sisters, God’s work has been done and will continue to be done in a humble and sincere way. These women are a wonderful example of Christian service by living their lives to care for others less fortunate. Thanks to who they are and what they have done; we have all benefited either directly or indirectly and it is a great thing to consider and appreciate.

Tom Keith is the executive director of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina

Servant Leadership Matters

What we do with our free time is up to us. Many people like to attend and play sports, travel or participate in family activities. These are wonderful things to do. Many people also focus on spending time to serve their community, often making it a priority. We have that investment by the members of the Board of Trustees at the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina.

Many of our trustees donate hundreds of hours of their time each to attend meetings, participate in site visits and conferences, review grants and many other Foundation activities. The life blood of most non-profit organizations lie with its volunteers. While staff may be essential, volunteers offer a perspective and expertise key to a balanced and successful organization. There are certain core values that are inherit in all board members. These include belief in the mission, selflessness, leadership and believing in an inclusive team effort to accomplish a larger organizational goal.

Servant leadership has different meanings to different people. My interpretation of a servant leader is someone who commits to serving others through their own sacrifices or using their own gifts. This is evident on our Foundation Board each and every year. A board comprised of servant leaders who care about others and give of their time, energy and talents to make a difference in affecting the lives of the poor in South Carolina. They embody the Foundation’s core values of justice, collaboration, compassion, respect and courage. Without them, we would not be the organization we are today.

Tom Keith is the executive director of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina.

What does poor mean today?

We so often hear the term poor people but do we ever stop to think what “poor” means. Growing up, for me, it was the older man standing on the street corner holding out his hat asking for change. Today, it is much different. Without going into the financial part of it, which is somewhere in the $20,000 range for a family of four, a snapshot of today’s poor looks something like this:

• The Homeless- This is a critical part of our population that is primarily dealing with situational poverty. They have no place to live, have no food and have health needs. They are dependant on others to provide these services. In addition, many of these individuals are dealing with unaddressed substance abuse and mental health issues.

• The Elderly- Many of the elderly population living in poverty are on a fixed income and barely get by. They qualify for Medicare and social security but have very limited funds for anything else. A major concern for the elderly is around long-term care and Medicaid eligibility. There are a limited number of beds for long term care for elderly people living in poverty and a good many of these facilities are substandard.

• Children- Many children live in single family homes that are well below the poverty line. A lot of these children may be eligible for Medicaid but have not been registered. Health access is a major concern for children living in poverty. Furthermore, children living in poverty are often left at home after school which can be unsafe and unproductive. There is a growing need for more accredited after school programs that can provide tutoring, mentoring and a safe haven for children that, otherwise, may find themselves home alone.

• The Working Poor- These individuals are working one or two low-wage jobs and are barely making ends meet. They often live in low-rent housing and have minimal discretionary money for spending. Many qualify for subsidies, but struggle to receive these benefits they are entitled to because of a complicated government system.

• Fathers- Low-income fathers struggle to meet their child support obligation and often find themselves incarcerated or unable to deal with financial expectations because of lack of education and job skills. While there is a much progress in supporting these fathers, more can be done. Fathers’ supporting their children is a critical need and we must invest more in developing their skills and abilities so they can meet their responsibilities.

The question becomes “What do we need to do as a society to impact these and other constituencies not mentioned?” I think we have many options, and here are a few:

• Invest in education. Find more ways for young people to get their GED, get training at technical colleges and increase their skill level.
  

• Invest more in early childhood education so children, especially those from poor families, will be better prepared for school and be more successful.

• Improve parenting skills for parents living in low-income situations.
  

• Provide better training and skills around financial management.
  

• Make sure all children have access to health care.
  

• Make sure all individuals who qualify for Medicaid are registered in a quick and responsive manner. Let’s remove barriers.
  

• Strengthen the network of providers of health care for the poor through our free medical clinics, other private health access programs and free medication programs.
  

• Provide more job training for adults.
  

• Provide more adult literacy programs.
  

• Insure those living in poverty have equal access to justice as those who can pay.
  

• Make sure systems of government are “user friendly” and help not deter clients who need services.
  

• Involve the private sector more, including businesses, churches, civic groups, retirees and others, to help continue to address problems that face those living in poverty.
  

• Transportation. This has a major impact on those living in poverty and is a barrier to many services such as medical appointments, employment, social services and grocery shopping. In many areas, public transportation is not available at all and there are no viable alternatives. This needs to be addressed as a system and we need to find better ways to serve the poor and allow them access to transportation to meet their daily needs.

There are many more examples of those living in poverty and of steps we can take to help these individuals and families. When you think about those living in poverty and it seems overwhelming, it is. However, we can make a difference and we should.

Tom Keith is the executive director of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina.

What Can Philanthropy Do Now?

As our state and country’s economy continues to struggle we find ourselves in the midst of a major dilemma. The questions become, “What can philanthropy do now through foundations and with other non-profit organizations to have impact during tough economic times?” There are several options that I would like to offer for your consideration.

• Foundations can expect and foster more productivity and efficiency from non-profit organizations, and demonstrate this expectation by operating in this manner.

• Invest in more education and training for non-profit organizations, beyond making direct grants. Every non-profit can benefit from new techniques around financial management, operational management, fund raising, board governance and marketing.

• Foundations must take a public stand on issues that impact non-profit organizations and the constituencies they serve. For example, inefficient government systems and punitive and illogical policies and decision making that have a negative impact on the poor and underserved needs to be addressed. In addition, Foundations should publicly support those policies that benefit the communities they serve. Foundations must be crusaders for those who cannot advocate effectively for themselves.

• Invest in innovative ideas, even if it is risky. Be willing to move forward if the outcome could help more people and offer solutions to problems.

• Expect accountability. Every financial investment into the non-profit sector should have a return. Some are easier to measure than others but every organization accepting grant funds needs to be able to report its successes and, yes, failures. This needs to be a meaningful and dynamic process and not a perfunctory “after the fact” exercise.

• Promote more volunteerism. There are thousands of retirees in our state and country that have the time, experience and knowledge to make an impact on the non-profit sector. We must mobilize and involve more of these individuals. We must also call on our young people to become engaged in philanthropic endeavors. Our next generation must see the need and take responsibility for community service now.

• Encourage philanthropy. There are a lot of people who have become wealthy over the last ten years, and for what ever reason, have not shared this wealth. We must find a way to create new foundations or endowments through community foundations. We also must give relief to those who are able to give but need some incentive. For example, the IRA Charitable Rollover under the Pension Protection Act of 2006 allowed taxpayers 70-and-a-half or older to give money to charity from IRA’s without penalty. This was a good decision and generated millions of dollars for non-profit organizations in a short period of time.

These are just a few ways that we can make a difference now. Let’s all work together to find other ways to encourage and build philanthropy. It is how we will continue to change lives and communities for the better.

Tom Keith is the executive director of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina.

Don't Forget Non-Profits During Tough Economy

The recent downturn in financial markets and the faltering economy is negatively impacting businesses and individuals in South Carolina. People are forced to change their spending habits and prioritize how and where they spend their hard earned dollars. Businesses face similar challenges. Often overlooked, but equally impaired by this financial crisis, are nonprofit organizations serving the poor and vulnerable. With individual needs increasing, nonprofit organizations are trying to respond while trying to survive.

Non-profit and faith-based organizations that deliver much needed services to poor families and individuals are in deep trouble as they rely primarily on charitable contributions and grants. Donors that financially support these organizations are now reducing or eliminating their contributions. In addition, the weak economy and poor performing stock market has impacted grantmaking foundations’ assets, thus affecting their ability to give. The decreased contributions and grants coupled with the huge increase in demand for the services of nonprofits in this time of need cause an industry paradox that could spell disaster for many organizations in the near future. Several non-profit groups in South Carolina will be forced to cut services and lay off staff while others will be forced to close their doors completely.

There is no easy solution to the economic woes that face us. There are many forthcoming financial decisions underway in Washington that will affect each of us either at work or at home. As we consider our financial options, we must not forget the financial investments we have made and should continue to make to the non-profit and charitable sector.

The reality is that often the people affected most during an economic downturn are the most marginalized and vulnerable in our society including children and poor families. The devastation for the needy will be far worse than anything facing the average South Carolinian. When considering expenditures through business, philanthropy or individually, let us continue to support those who need it the most. We have done our part to help during the good times, now it is up to us to do what we can to help these organizations through the tough times. It is the right thing to do and the right time to do it.

Thomas C. Keith is the executive director of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina.