Give a Gift That Gives Back

I had a wonderful childhood and my parents provided for our family, yet with five children they believed in giving sound advice and education instead of giving outright funds for non-essentials. Therefore, we were each given ownership in buying anything extra such as our own cars and paying for gas. I recall as a teenager and young adult that driving a car provided a sense of independence, but also a fear of what could go wrong while driving- flat tires, car breaks down, out of gas. On Valentine’s Day very year my father would tell me that he was paying for my annual membership in AAA, instead of giving me chocolate or other trinkets of love. In looking back, that gift of AAA was a special gift of love in that it gave me (and my father) the security that there was someone else there to help me in a bind, and as I moved out on my own, I have kept up the AAA membership for over 45 years and every year I pay that bill, I am reminded of my father and his gesture.

In honor of Valentine’s Day, I think about ways to “give a gift that gives back”. Supporting a charity such as the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum is the perfect way to give love back to my community and I can see the results multiplied with the many children that benefit from the school and other programs. Whether you are celebrating with the one you love in person or you’re miles apart, donating to the Museum in their name can be something that makes their Valentine’s Day extra special. And for families, turn the holiday into a learning experience associated with giving back to others. Having kids involved in philanthropic assessments is a great way to allow them to spread love to those in need. Or a gift of a Museum membership is another way to show love of an experience to another.