It's the Season for Giving
We’re entering into the season of giving. I’m discovering more and more that there are countless ways of sharing that can truly benefit those in need. I recently had the great honor of having the 42nd president of the United States, Bill Clinton, as a guest on my television show.
Since leaving office, Clinton has been doing amazing things to better the world. In 2005, he formed the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), a non-partisan catalyst for action. Its purpose is to bring together global leaders, business moguls, preeminent scholars, philanthropists, and celebrities to devise solutions to some of the world’s most pressing problems. The initiative focuses on four key areas – poverty alleviation, education, energy and climate change, and global health.
The CGI is held in September at the United Nations and each year 1600 people attend. Everyone at the meeting is asked to make a commitment and to keep it. If they do not, they are not invited back the following year. In the past two years, over 600 commitments have been made worth $10 billion dollars involving more than 1,000 organizations in 100 countries.
I am pleased to report that this year, I was invited to CGI and my commitment is to create a handbook about care giving for the elderly. My signed document states, “I commit to ease the difficulties associated with the oversight of care for our elderly. Through the development of on-line and in-class materials for doctors, medical students, and family caregivers on how to educate, support, and provide assistance to those who find themselves in a care giving role.†And I feel really good about this.
That’s just the thing about giving – it does make you feel good, whether you are donating money, your time, or your skills. If you have thought about giving but are not sure how to get started, pick up a copy of Bill Clinton’s book called GIVING – how each of us can change the world. You can also visit his Web site at mycommitment.org where you will discover that regardless of your age, income, or where you live, you, too, can do something that has a lasting impact and makes a profound difference in the lives of others.
I found this photo of an earlier meeting with President Clinton.
What an honor for my mother and me!
Get well soon mom! 
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