Ever since the Major League Baseball All-Star game in mid-July, I’ve been thinking about the pre-game video. And, now that my beloved sport is reaching its regular season conclusion in the next couple of weeks, I thought I’d finally blog about my unexpected, impactful encounter with that six-minute video.
Did you see it? There I was, sitting on my couch waiting for Pres. Obama to throw out the first pitch. Instead, what came next from St. Louis were Presidents Obama, Bush, Clinton, Bush and Carter appealing to us to go beyond, to do good work daily, to volunteer. They highlighted the stories of five “All Stars Among Us,” individuals who were not intimidated by challenges, but inspired by the difference they could make.
What struck me about these stories is that these folks are ordinary people who are transforming their world in simple, extraordinary ways because they chose to act. Not just talk about needs and what ifs, but taking it upon themselves to step up to the plate and do something.
My colleague Juliana Tillema wrote a blog about her reflections and actions around the Sept. 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance. A few days before that, I wrote about turning the word “philanthropy” into a verb. What is it about that word “do”?
Well, I’m trying to step up and do some sort of good work daily – whether it’s an organized activity or a spontaneous gesture. Opportunities abound. If you’re at all inclined to explore the possibilities for action, check out the website referenced in the All-Star video, http://www.serve.gov/. Other appropriate names for this site could be do.org or act.com.
You get the point.
- Chris Murakami Noonan, MCF communications associate
