Ten Charitable Giving Ideas for Lent that Anyone Can Do

Feb. 22, 2012 - PRLog -- SEATTLE…Ash Wednesday launches the season of Lent and a time where Catholics and other Christians begin a renewal period which includes prayer, fasting and almsgiving (or charitable giving).  Seattle philanthropy advisor Richard Bray suggests ten ways that everyone can celebrate Charitable Giving during Lent.

For Children and Families:
•   Visit a nursing home
•   Help serve food at a homeless shelter or help your local food bank
•   Skip a meal or dessert weekly.  Save the money and give it to a charity

For Young Adults:
•   Be a mentor to a at-risk youth
•   Organize a charity benefit and invite friends and co-workers
•   Give up a latte a week and donate the money to charity

For Adults:
•   Make a philanthropy plan that puts your time, talent and treasure to best use
•   Have potlucks with friends. Give the money you would have spent going out to a
       favorite cause

Seniors:
•   Create an estate plan to protect your family and also include charitable legacy gift
•   Use  a lifetime of skills to help a local non-profit become more effective

“Lent is a great time for giving and personal reflection. And whether you are religious or not, it’s a time where everyone can do a philanthropy plan and make a difference now and for the future,” says Bray.

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Richard Bray is a strategic philanthropy advisor with Family Values Philanthropy helping non-profits, individuals and businesses further their values and desire for community impact. He has helped to foster generosity in the Greater Seattle and Puget Sound region for the past twenty years. Bray is a member of the Washington Planned Giving Council and Seattle Philanthropic Advisors Network.