Spirit of giving is alive and well

I am a wuss. I can tear up over a tissue ad. Don’t get me started on end-of-year school concerts. And at Christmas time, just the first chord in Jingle Bells is enough to set me off.

I know. Weird. Hormonal. Unbalanced.

Possibly all of the above.

This week’s Kleenex moments came without warning. Although, as we’re smack bang in the middle of the 2012 Christmas countdown, I guess I should be permanently on tissue guard.

The first was in the form of this email below from a large law firm where I live.

Now, it’s not unusual to receive a very nice, gift boxed bottle of wine from this law firm at Christmas time but this year they’ve done something that will have greater benefits than me sitting down to enjoy a lovely red or a few glasses of bubbles.

This is who they are supporting: Lucy Ridoutt suffers from a condition called Goldenhar Syndrome which is a rare craniofacial condition which has resulted in malformed ear canals that have left her deaf. Her mum Michelle is trying to raise $60,000 so that Lucy can travel to California in 2012 for much needed surgery that will give her a better quality of life. More details about Lucy and how you can help can be found on their website www.listeningforlucy.weebly.com 

Then on Tuesday morning I was at a women’s business networking breakfast. The last one for the year.

Usually we’re asked to bring a toy to place under the tree at the December breakfast. Something to help one child (usually in crisis accommodation) get a little joy at Christmas.

This year we donated the money we would have spent on that toy (and a little bit more) to an organisation – Sunnykids - that works to help prevent kids falling through the cracks and ending up in crisis in the first place.

Sunnykids principles: Every child should have the opportunity to reach their full potential regardless of their circumstance. Capable children are the foundation of a capable and prosperous society. Every community problem has a community based solution.

We all left with the decoration pictured at the top of this post to put on our trees at home … as a reminder about Christmas REALLY is about.

Have you had a Kleenex moment this Christmas? Do you support others at Christmas? Is there a cause you support we should know about?