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This year, September 5 marks the International Day of Charity, as it was declared by the United Nations eight years ago. 
 
The purpose of the observance is to raise awareness of charity and philanthropic activities around the world – from your backyard to across the globe. 

In essence, charity is important as it allows us to reach out into wider society and help those that need our support. It improves our communities, our countries and our planet, it brings people together for a common cause, and it spreads education and information. 
 
This International Day of Charity, you’re invited to look at the concept of “charity” through a different lens. 
 
Too often, philanthropy and “savior-ism” can get mixed up. At best, this can create misguided or unnecessary work, and at worst it can muddle and harm the aims of a progressive movement. 

For example, there is often a significant racial gap in the nonprofit world. Many organizations serve communities of color, but they lack racial diversity in their leadership.  
 
This is a real issue that effects many charitable organizations, from local to international, and it can lead to “white saviorism,” which refers to an idea in which a white person, or white culture, attempts to “rescue” people of color from their own situation.  
 
While this phenomenon might stem from good intent, it can become dangerous to individuals and cultures when the charitable organization ends up overpowering the voices in the marginalized group, and thus takes away their ability to self-direct. 
 
Charity must give in a way that elevates the agency of those who benefit. Charity should never be thought of as a “hand-out” given by those who “know better,” but should rather be a partnership which underscores that all parties involved are knowledgeable and capable humans working together towards a common goal. 
 
That means that everyone who gives to Planned Parenthood -- from the patient who donates by rounding up their bill to the next dollar, to the person who writes us a check for a large sum of money -- is a philanthrope.  
 
It means that everyone who gives is a part of the same team, working towards the same goal.  
 
And it means that our patients, their loved ones and their communities, are all stakeholders in our mission, just as much as those who give. 

Many supporters, like you, tell us they stand with Planned Parenthood because they see us working together towards a common goal.  
 
Like you, we want to expand access to reproductive health care, making it available to everyone who needs it, no matter what. 
 
And, like you, many of our staff are or were once Planned Parenthood patients. They stand with Planned Parenthood because it was there for them when they needed it. They want it to be there for others. 
 
This International Day of Charity, please take some time to share your story, and to listen to the stories of others.  
 
Take a moment to reflect on how and why you give, how your goals align with the organizations you support, and how their goals, and yours, align with the greater community. 
 
If it moves you, please direct some of your charity to Planned Parenthood and stand with us on this day. You can donate using this link.

Tags: Philanthropy, Charity

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