A new year starts for many with the feelings of hope, excitement and a renewed scene of commitment. Some start a new workout program and try to eat better, while others commit to new habits or ventures. Regardless of what your personal resolutions may be, make one of them a commitment to philanthropy. Giving can come in many different forms: donating time with a local non-profit organization, giving monetary funds to support student scholarships, volunteering skills and abilities on charity boards; the list goes on and on.

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As Chapman University alumni, we should all be familiar with the work of Albert Schweitzer and his many contributions to Africa as well as the world.  While we all may not dedicate our lives in such a manner as he did, we can all make strides toward doing something for others and giving of ourselves in ways that touch us most.  For truly, some of the most rewarding moments in life are when we give to others and see the difference that has been made.

Should your spirit of giving and philanthropy guide you back to Chapman, there are countless ways to give back. From volunteering to mentor a current student, to
Thinking Chapman First
in looking for professional student interns, to monetary gifts to the
Chapman Fund
, to simply attending Alumni Association gatherings, Chapman offers a wealth of opportunities to become involved and truly give back to some exceptional students and phenomenal community projects.

I challenge everyone in this new year to start giving back. Take a moment not for yourself, but for someone else, and enrich that person’s life just a little more than it was. In the words of Albert Schweitzer himself:

“Everyone must work to live, but the purpose of life is to serve and to show compassion and the will to help others. Only then have we ourselves become true human beings.”        -Albert Schweitzer