The season of giving
Christmas is the time for being thankful for what we have, but also a chance to give to those less fortunate.
It’s the time of the year when we start laying plans to get together with friends and family for Christmas and to watch the clock tick over into the New Year.
But not everyone has shared in the prosperity or security that many of us have enjoyed, and Christmas can be a particularly difficult time for those less fortunate than us; a fact that compels many to give selflessly during this time of year.
In fact 150 years ago, AMP’s first ever agent, Benjamin Short, was himself compelled to make a difference to stop Australians from becoming mere statistics. And by doing so, he created the Sydney City Mission (now Mission Australia).
However, despite the best efforts of people like Benjamin Short, some of the problems faced 150 years ago are still with us today. Recently published research^ found that one in seven Australians seeking help from welfare groups such as Mission Australia weren’t getting a substantial meal every day, while one in four couldn’t afford the medicines prescribed by a doctor.
About a third of those surveyed said they couldn’t afford presents for family or friends even once a year – not for a birthday, let alone Christmas. Meanwhile, a quarter told the Social Policy Research Centre at the University of NSW that they couldn’t fund a hobby or leisure activity for their children, while one in five couldn’t afford new clothes for them.
So as well as getting ready for our celebrations, perhaps we can also take time out to think about how we could help those less fortunate during this holiday season, and beyond.
There are many ways you can help. Buying a gift that takes the form of a donation in the name of a family member or friend, for example. In the Oxfam Unwrapped program, for instance, you can donate anything from $10 for a pack of fruit-tree seeds to be used by farmers in East Timor, up to $495 for a buffalo to plough paddocks in places like Cambodia. (www.oxfamunwrapped.com.au).
Closer to home, Mission Australia (www.missionaustralia.com.au or 1800 88 88 68) has Christmas e-Gifts – allowing you to provide everything from a $5 “treat” for a homeless person’s pet, to a Christmas dinner for a disadvantaged family. Mission Australia will also be seeking general donations for its annual Christmas Appeal.
Today, through the help of the AMP Foundation, AMP planners just like us have helped to keep Benjamin Short’s vision of a better Australia alive by actively supporting projects and charities that make a positive difference to local communities. Since 2002, these projects have helped to raise more than $30 million in donations to charities in areas ranging from autism and asthma, through to veterans and youth groups.
Just like Benjamin Short, we’re passionate about making our community a better place for everyone. And, if you want to make a difference too, I encourage you to donate towards a local charity or community project this Christmas. It could be the greatest gift you ever give.
Please call us for more ways on how you can help make a difference today.
^ Source: Saunders, P. and Wong, M., July 2010, Still doing it tough: an update on deprivation and social exclusion among welfare service clients, Social Policy Research Centre University of New South Wales.
What you need to know
Information current as at November 2010. This article contains general information only. It does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Please consider the appropriateness of the information in light of your personal circumstances. If you decide to purchase or vary a financial product, your financial planner, our practice, AMP Financial Planning and other companies within the AMP Group will receive fees and other benefits, which will be a percentage of the premium you pay and/or the advice fee you agree with us. Further details are available from your planner or AMP Financial Planning Pty Limited, telephone 1300 157 173.
