The Gift Of Giving

December 18, 2009

Interview with Craig Kielburger, author of the book Me to We: Finding Meaning in a Material World

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Mike Carruthers:
This is the time of year we most often think of giving, volunteering and helping others, but there are a lot of other important reasons to give.

Craig Kielburger:
Because when we help others, it helps us - people who helped others gained so much back in return. Really volunteerism is actually one of the most selfish things you could ever do.
 

Craig Kielburger author of the book Me to We…
 

The University of Virginia found that volunteerism raised grades for high school students. The University of Michigan in their studies found that volunteers (especially senior citizens) not only lived healthier lives, they lived longer lives.

To demonstrate the potential power of giving just a little, Oprah Winfrey wrote a story for Craig's book…

About how in her life one Christmas, her family couldn't afford Christmas gifts, and there was a knock on her door where two women brought a simple doll for Oprah. And years later when she becomes "Oprah" as we know her, she still looks back on that moment as the happiest in her life.

And it's never too early to start giving.

People like Cody, an eleven year old boy - he lost his father from cancer and every day he would go to the cancer ward, be with his father and he saw all these others kids who also were suffering, who were struggling - and he realized that they almost had no toys or games to play with while they were in the hospital. So, he started to put together, Cody's comfort kits, just collecting simple things from his house, and then his whole community, as he brought these items to kids.

To hear the complete unedited interview, click here