Give to Operation Family Fund
COMMENTARY
Y
OU’D HAVE TO BE IN A COMA TO NOT KNOW THAT
we’re all having fi nancial problems because
of irresponsible borrowing and lending by
individuals and corporations.
Most people are tightening their belts, dining out
less, seeing fewer movies, and generally trying to
budget their expenses.
This is not the time, however, to cut out real, honest,
charitable giving. I’m not talking about giving money
to groups with large overheads, or doling
handouts to irresponsible relatives and
friends who have been mooching off you.
I mean that you shouldn’t stop helping
those in more need than you.
There is an old Rabbinic story about a
rich man who walked the same road to his
successful business, hesitating each day at
FAMILIES FUNDED Every penny donated to Operation Family
the same corner to toss a few shekels to an
Fund goes to military members and their families, who
old, crippled beggar. He did this day in and
have given so much for our freedom.
5 MINUTES WITH
day out for years, rain or shine. Their needs have not diminished as the national
DOCTOR
Sadly, his business started to decline as fi nancial crisis has evolved — in fact, their needs
people’s tastes changed and newer, more have increased with potential home foreclosures, car
LAURA
innovative merchandise became available. repossessions, travel to hospitals, medical equipment
The man did not go bankrupt, but he no necessary for rehabilitation and so much more.
By Dr. Laura longer was so very rich. I became associated with Operation Family Fund for
Schlessinger One fi ne day, as the once-wealthy man two very important reasons:
walked his usual route to work, he didn’t It has no overhead; every single penny of donations
stop to toss a few shekels to the old, crippled beggar. goes directly to the families in need, 100 percent.
The beggar called out to him. “Sir, didn’t you forget My son is a member of the volunteer armed forces
something?” and I feel that, if you’re the parent of anyone in
“No, I’m sorry,” The man responded. “I’m not doing the military, then you are the mommy or daddy of
as well and can’t easily afford to give you shekels.” everybody in the military.
The beggar quickly replied. “Yes, I understand you I wanted to help the families whose members sacrifi ce
don’t have as much. But my needs haven’t changed.” greatly for our country. They don’t live on much, often
Whenever I tell this story, the reaction I usually get have to travel to keep their families together, and bear
is, “What a selfi sh beggar!” long deployments, not knowing if they will ever see their
But that’s not the real message of this story. The loved ones again.
message is that our continuous concern about the well- I have raised money for Operation Family Fund in a
being of others less fortunate than ourselves — those number of ways, including creating and hand-crafting
GES
souls who are needy through no fault of their own — is jewelry for sale on (www.drlaura.com), organizing
TY IMA a measure of our character. The human spirit is elevated motorcycle rallies, putting on one-woman theatrical
GET
by giving and caring, even when the physical realities are shows, throwing a dance party at Disneyland, and
TEIN/
challenging or appalling (See “Comfort Zone,” page 56). bringing the Fund’s work to the attention of the public.
I have been associated with Operation Family Fund I want to stress that 100 percent of donations make
(www.operationfamilyfund.org) for several years, their way to those military families in need, unusual for
raising over a million dollars in grants to families of our any charity, much less charities for the military.
ANDREW LICHTENS
fallen or severely injured military who have fought in This holiday season remember: Our military families
MARINE/ Afghanistan and Iraq. need you!
DECEMBER 2008 / NEWSMAX MAXLIFE 61
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