I want to tell you something important about the greatest investments you can make in life. Not CDs, stocks, bonds or mutual funds–it’s bigger than all those put together.
It’s investing in people, specifically children and others who need your help.
My daughter, Robyn-Jo, 28, died suddenly on Dec. 12 after a long six-year medical and emotional battle, after having blessed us with one of the world’s best-spirited personalities, a sense of humor, caring for her brothers and sisters, and a love of little kids.
It takes something like this, and the subsequent reflections, I think, to put the whole gamut of investing into real perspective.
Building your stock portfolio is important. So are having a 401(k) retirement program, and shopping banks to earn the highest yields and get the cheapest rate on a credit card.
It’s also important to search out the experts who can best help counsel you on your finances, and to give to your church.
But it’s just as critical to invest some of your time–and money–to make the world a better place for our kids to live. And there’s no better time of the year to start doing it than now.
I don’t know where you bank, or which brokerage you’re doing business with, but you might invest five minutes of your time to find out what those organizations are doing to give something back to their communities or help needy causes, in exchange for the privilege of being entrusted with your money.
You might ask how involved their managers and employees are in helping the homeless, reading to a children’s group on Saturday mornings or other activities.
It would take them less time than opening your checking account for you, or stuffing their ATMs with $10 and $20 bills.
With the big financial outfits merging more and more, it seems that personal attention is getting less and less– beginning inside the bank, not out of it.
Forgive me for asking, but how does your personal investment portfolio look when it comes to making those important investments?
How much would it cost to donate, say, an hour of your time once a week to enrich the life of a disabled child, compared with the cost of your last stock trade?
No one, mind you, is suggesting you do something instead of the investment habits you’ve already mastered, but rather build something more than personal wealth.
Plenty of places in your hometown need you to “invest” this way.
There are two that I know of personally: One is the Children’s Health Program Inc., a non-profit organization based in Great Barrington, Mass., the next town over from where our Robyn-Jo lived, in Stockbridge.
CHP’s far-reaching program is for low-income families having a difficult time raising healthy children. It ranges from providing transportation to get children to a doctor, to nursing and pediatrics aid, food baskets, a clothing exchange, kids’ health insurance and even collecting fresh diapers through church groups. Their address is P.O. Box 30, Great Barrington, Mass. 01230, and they’re facing a financial crisis because of a state funding cut.
Another “investment” opportunity is with the Children’s Golf Foundation Inc., in North Palm Beach, Fla. It’s also a non-profit group of volunteers, who teach physically and mentally handicapped kids how to swing a golf club, believe it not, and do things they never thought they could do.
CGF was started without a dime by a retiree, George McGrory, who now instructs 500 handicapped children through 13 public schools every week.
On Saturday mornings, he also takes the kids in their wheelchairs to a Jack Nicklaus driving range, to give them a taste of the wonderful world of golf. Some youngsters who couldn’t walk or talk before are now doing exactly that.
Recently, the foundation’s program was expanded to include disabled veterans from four U.S. wars, who are housed at the Veteran’s Administration Medical Center in West Palm Beach. They include a 102-year-old vet from World War I who has learned how to stand by his wheelchair and drive a golf ball.
The Children’s Golf Foundation’s goal is to build the nation’s first golf course for handicapped kids, and a company with deep pockets would help. CGF’s address is 11911 U.S. Highway One, North Palm Beach, Fla. 33408.
To be sure, millions of Americans and many banks are already deeply involved in what I call “life investing.” But there’s room for a whole lot more, and the returns on investments are huge.
Tonight–whatever you do–be sure to do at least one thing.
Put your arms around your children, kiss and hug them, and tell them how much you love them.
Robyn-Jo taught all of us how important that really is.
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Robert Heady publishes Bank Rate Monitor, a newsletter based in North Palm Beach, Fla.
