One of the most moving experiences in my professional and personal life occurs each year at the annual Legacy Luncheon for the Community Foundation of Sarasota County.  With lights turned down and candles lit at each table, I read the names of our Legacy members who have passed away during the last year. These moments are very poignant for me and for our audience of donors and their family members.

Each name being read represents a life that was lived with intentionality by a person who believed in the power of giving to others. Like each one of us, they came from different backgrounds, held different positions in their careers, suffered losses and experienced different challenges in life that shaped the way they felt about our world and how they wanted to impact it.  

Among the names I read on Friday was Kathy Baylis, a kind and brilliant community leader who made countless contributions to local businesses and our economy. I read the name of Charlotte Graver, who helped to pave the road for women in business. She had a deep sense of pride for her family, supporting causes important to her and her family including Jewish culture and heritage, human services, and cancer research. I read Dr. John Freeman’s name—a deeply loved radiologist from Venice who touched thousands of lives.

Philanthropy has been broadly defined as love for humankind.  No matter what your individual circumstance may be, each of us has three potential gifts at our disposal to share: our time, our talents and our treasure. Whether you share your gifts in a structured way—through a local nonprofit for example—or more informally—helping your friends, family and neighbors—you have an imprint on your community.

The ways we can make a difference are also shaped by how we choose to talk to others and work with others who may be different from ourselves. It can be hard to remember as political discussions about candidates are heating up and we face strong feelings about what we want to stand up for. But when used with that love for human kind, our words and actions can have greater impact in the way we shape possibilities in our community.  

Together with my colleagues, I consider myself extremely fortunate to sit at the intersection of so much community impact that is powered by philanthropy. We enjoy the stories from local nonprofits who receive funding from Immediate Impact Grants, the thank you notes passed along by families who escape homelessness through Season of Sharing funds, the news of graduation from our college scholarship recipients, and the photographs of students learning experientially at local organizations through EdExplore SRQ.

Each of these examples of philanthropy at work is part of a larger landscape of positive impact in our community. Each is made possible by people who care deeply about others and our community.

It’s difficult for us to say goodbye to friends, but knowing that their choice to give impacted others—one person at a time—makes it easier and serves as a reminder about what we can do with the time, talent and treasure that has been afforded to us.

Some leave charitable legacies of millions of dollars, others with millions of imprints of kind hellos and expressions of “How can I help you?”

Let’s consider how many opportunities we have to be philanthropic. When our names are read one day, it will mean something powerful. 

Roxie Jerde is the president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County.