We live in a stressful world where it can sometimes be difficult to keep up with the financial demands that life requires. Today is a “New Era”, a new time for Americans to start “Unlimited Giving”. With our ever-changing economy forcing people to make important decisions regarding their finances, health care, and more, people need hard-to-find resources now more than ever. From the poor to the rich, everyone is affected by a faltering economy. But, our nation’s poor bear the brunt of economic downturns. That said, as I gather the pages of my “Giving Without Boundaries” help guide, I am reminded of the heartfelt delivery of one: “Mama Brown” from Oakland, California, a real estate professional who made a promise. Mrs. Brown kept it to send underprivileged kids to college. These acts of kindness can make a difference in the life of a poor child. Mama Brown, who was earning less than $50,000 a year at the time she made the pledge, said, “I never heard a kid say that she wanted to grow up to be a drug dealer.”

If we follow in the footsteps of Mother Brown, we will do so with a spirit that will not be challenged. We keep our eyes on the main course and the goal which is to help where help is needed. As I compose the pages of this guide, I have come across many courageous acts of kindness that stand as a constant reminder of how each of us can begin to help others by beginning with the words, “We can. We will. And, We Shall.”

It is a very noble concept to make a difference in someone else’s life. From the homeless to the “Green Movement” to help people with muscular dystrophy and other illnesses, we can all do something to help where it’s needed. Even something as generous as taking out a sick neighbor’s trash can put a smile on a sick person’s face. From helping others to helping conserve energy, there are many ways you’ve probably never considered before. I hope this new help guide is informative enough to open your eyes to several donation opportunities that you may never have thought of before.

As we look beyond our own personal needs to help others, there are many ways to begin the helping process. Often the cost of helping others can be free. The Giving Without Boundaries Help Guide will be a great starting point for exploring what charitable causes you’d like to serve. This comprehensive guide will open the door for you to learn about many charities, their mission statements and how they can be best served. Take your time and plan your voluntary attack. If you’re a college student, you may want to base your giving methodology on career interests and internship opportunities. And as you peruse the pages of this book, some charities may be familiar to you and others will open your heart to new ways of giving. Remember to keep track of the businesses or organizations you choose to support by copying the forms at the back of this book for your personal use. You’ll soon discover that giving to others is a great way for teens to gain work experience while helping others. It’s also a great way for young college graduates to gain valuable training and experience to get the career they want most.

In writing this guide, I discovered that all one needs to do to make a significant difference in someone’s life is to be able to see the need and then open their hearts to help. A free spirit towards a new found gesture of helping your neighbor or woman, child, animal or your living environment is satisfying. If “What goes around comes around”, one day your ways of giving will be returned to you in kind. Few of us know what the true destiny of life will be. To jumpstart your future, do something for others and see how good the results will feel to you.

For example, when you help a homeless person by giving them something to eat and they smile at you, nothing is more rewarding to the heart. Or when he counsels a young teenager who doesn’t know how to look for answers, his wisdom may be the key to what he’s been looking for in life. If you rescue an animal with a bruised limb, you are happy to help where it is needed most. The results of your efforts will certainly bear great fruit no matter how you choose to use them; because now you have planted a seed in that teenager’s life to make a difference. Seeing an adult read for the first time is a glorious turning point for a better future for that individual. All of these things have a tendency to make us want to do more in the name of humanity. As I speak in this regard, I would like to share a very memorable personal experience. Later you will read some ways others changed the course of their own destiny to help others. Whether it’s a momentary or long-term commitment to volunteer at a food bank or hospital, giving without limits always leads to deceptive success. One of the most thoughtful things a person did for me was the quintessential meaning of “Giving Without Limits.” The selfless act of a stranger touched me in a way that changed my life forever. And, he is the inspiration behind this upcoming book. This is what happened.

My start in life was not always so pleasant. I was the sixth of sixteen children. My father left home when I was a little boy. With a small army of children to care for, my mother never had time for me. My maternal grandmother died when I was only ten years old and my paternal grandmother died before. Needless to say, he was very lonely in a large family. For many years I worked hard and wondered when someone would just care about me. And then later in life, I discovered that many people had opened their hearts to me who were not members of my family. So, with this admission, I am pleased to say that I have been touched by the kind acts of people who have helped me from the heart. Some of these people did not know me; but they saw a need and provided answers where I thought there was none. And a kind act has the measure of staying with me for the rest of my life. And that is the act of “Giving Without Borders” that I want to share with you.

A few years ago, I was working as a business consultant in downtown Oakland, California. My boss had sent me on a rush errand in downtown Oakland, California. So, I ran out of my office on a beautiful sunny weekday and left my bag under my desk in a locked drawer. After finishing my boss’s tasks, I was tired. Instead of walking back to the office, I took public transportation. So on this beautiful spring day, I walked into San Pablo thinking I’d just take AC Transit back to my business office. My assistant had told me that she liked to travel by bus around the city, I thought it would be a great day to return to work by bus. Later, I sat at the bus stop next to a homeless man who was sleeping on the bench. The disheveled stranger was wrapped tightly in a mouse-colored tarp while he slept on the splintered wooden bench. As soon as I sat down next to him, he opened his tired blue eyes and greeted me. I got up immediately and apologized for interrupting his sleep.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you up,” I told her. The tired man smiled at me with red, tired eyes. He then turned around to continue his dream. It was a nice sunny day in Oakland, California and I was glad it didn’t rain on this poor guy. Soon, the green, white, and orange AC Transit bus pulled up to the red curb. And that’s when I realized I had no money to get on the bus. The driver opened the electric gate and I said, “I forgot my bag. I’m sorry you had to stop. Go ahead,” I said. Just before the driver closed the door, the tired old bum sat up and struggled to get a crumpled dollar bill out of the dirty pocket of his plaid shirt.

“Take this, ma’am,” he said. Tears instantly rolled down my cheeks. This was the nicest gesture I had ever seen. “I can’t do that…” I said, worried that this man might need his money for food later. “I insist,” said the kind man. Everyone from the bus driver to the bus passengers was touched by this kind man’s gesture and we all waved to him from the bus. Suddenly, a spark appeared in his eyes and now he was sitting and waving at us frantically as the bus moved down the busy street. When I got back to the office it was hard to forget the good man. Later, I told my co-workers about the cute bum at the bus stop and what he did. The next day – when part of my work team returned to the bus at the same time I was the day before, we traveled bringing blankets, water and food hoping to see the nice man – but he was not. For a week we all went back to the bus stop hoping to see the good man we never saw again. The generosity of that stranger formed the bond that changed my life. His kind gesture will stick to my heart forever. Now, every time I help people like that kind gentleman helped me, I am reminded of what we are all capable of doing for our fellow human beings.

Today, as I sat in my rocking chair looking at the good man I mentioned earlier, I pondered what my next book would be about. It wasn’t long before I knew I wanted to write a book about giving back. Some of the best memories of my life have to do with giving. There are many ways we can make a difference in someone’s life simply by taking the time to help. I am not a rich person, and like most Americans, I am one paycheck away from getting tested. I am struggling and trying to hang on like everyone else, but I am committed to finding some time in my life to reach out to others as others have reached out to me. As you read through the case examples that introduce my tips for help, see which organization is a better fit and donate your help today.