2025 Life Logs, Day 319: Philanthropy Talks
Date: Saturday, November 15, 2025
Weather: Beautiful Day; High Temp 46, Low 45 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue with My Shadow, Falmouth, MA
Friends of mine from Wayland (west of Boston) invited me to ‘Philanthropy Talks’ tonight. The purpose was to get a group of people together to discuss what organizations you support financially or with your time to make the most impact for saving our democracy. The hosts, Jim and Susie, knew everyone invited, but most of the people didn’t know each other. Unfortunately, Susie came down with a killer cold today and stayed hidden away for the evening. But her pre-planning was meticulous and allowed us to carry on without her. We first had to find someone who did the thing on a list we were all given. Find the person who sailed around the world. That would be me. Find the person who globetrots on top-secret negotiation missions. Find the person who served as chair of the Wellesley Select Board. Find the person who is currently chair of the Head of the Charles Regatta. Find the person who has rafted the Grand Canyon nine times. And on and on for all 14 of us, each one a person with a fascinating background. We picked a card out of bag that was either red or black, and that determined where we sat for dinner—black at a table in one room and red in another room. There was enough food to feed a small army, so we filled our plates and got to work. We were given a piece of paper with a large circle drawn on it and told to make a pie chart of how each person spends their philanthropic money and time currently. Then, after dinner, we all sat together and shared our results. I wish Susie had been able to join us to hear the final discussion. The well thought-out activity she designed certainly elicited a number of very creative ideas.
Thanks to the Goldstones for dog sitting for me so I could attend this. I was not going to drive the hour-and-a-half home after this event, so I needed a one-night home for Shadow. Heather sent me a photo to reassure me that all is well with Shadow. In fact, he looked as happy as I have ever seen him.
