By guest blogger Dalhia Cavazos
I recently read a article at greatergood.berkeley.edu about the benefits of giving. It is not only good for the world, the country and/or the community; it also has tangible benefits for the giver. These are some statistics from the article
Giving makes us feel good. In a 2006 study, Jorge Moll and colleagues at the National Institutes of Health found that when people give to charities, it activates regions of the brain associated with pleasure, social connection, and trust, creating a “warm glow” effect. Scientists also believe that altruistic behavior releases endorphins in the brain, producing the positive feeling known as the “helper’s high.”*
Giving is good for our health. Researchers suggest that one reason giving may improve physical health and longevity is that it helps decrease stress, which is associated with a variety of health problems. In a 2006 study by Rachel Piferi of Johns Hopkins University and Kathleen Lawler of the University of Tennessee, people who provided social support to others had lower blood pressure than participants who didn’t, suggesting a direct physiological benefit to those who give of themselves.*
Giving promotes cooperation and social connection. When we give to others, we don’t only make them feel closer to us; we also feel closer to them. “Being kind and generous leads you to perceive others more positively and more charitably,” writes Lyubomirsky in her book The How of Happiness, and this “fosters a heightened sense of interdependence and cooperation in your social community.”*
What this all means to me is that giving my support to IT4Causes is good for me as well as for the community!
To contribute to IT4Causes, go to http://www.it4causes.org/donate-today/. Donate by September 30 to become a Founding Funder. Contribute on September 16 or 17 to be part of The Amazing Raise to help us win additional funds from The Community Foundation.
*5 Ways Giving Is Good for You by Jill Suttie, Jason Marsh online http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/5_ways_giving_is_good_for_you)