Today I want to make one request of you: please do something give back. This issue of brass will be distributed to over 450,000 young adults across the country. Among you are future doctors, teachers, actors, lawyers, musicians, filmmakers, entrepreneurs, and hundreds, if not thousands, of other careers and futures. It is crucial that the people who will lead our generation give back and help others to follow in their paths.

Here at brass, we take this commitment seriously, redefining what it means to be “rich.” No effort is insignificant, whether it’s launching a national initiative to help students better understand money, featuring young people who break stereotypes and do good, or supporting employees who spend their lunch hour volunteering at a local elementary school.

The more influence and power you have, the more important this becomes. Look to celebrities like Bono who got involved in the (Product) RED campaign to help fight AIDS. Look to Halle Berry who is creating awareness for violence against women or Angelina Jolie who is raising awareness for genocide in Darfur. Look to companies that donate a percentage of profits or have foundations, or business moguls like Bill Gates and Warren Buffett who donated billions of their own personal wealth.

If you find yourself in the position to make a difference, do it. If you become a lawyer, take a pro bono case. If you’re an entrepreneur, donate to causes. If you become an actor, use your celebrity to effect change. If you’re a teacher, find a student in need to help after school. If you’re a musician, perform a free concert for a charity you believe in.

And in the meantime, don’t underestimate the power of a few hours volunteering. Consider this: based on government and academic research, in a world without volunteers, roughly 30 percent of hospital support services would not exist; about 60 percent of fire and emergency services would vanish; and social services for the needy would be cut nearly in half. Look to the people and organizations in your community to get involved.

If you don’t do it for anyone else, do it for yourself. Having a positive impact on someone is one of the best feelings in the world – but watch out…you might get hooked.

Send us an email with a story of how you’ve had an impact on someone else. I might just publish it in our next issue.

Sources:

abanet.org