Small CAN Make a BIG Difference

Sometimes it is the smallest things that matter most. For me it is my daughter's smile, or a spectacular sunset, or a bite of my mother's potato salad. Sometimes a small success at work can feed my motivation for days or weeks. A kind word at just the right time, or listening to a children’s choir can lift my spirits immensely. I think of these moments as snack-size portions of heaven—just enough to let me know that I want to see the rest of it one day—just enough to know that all those snacks add up to a grand and glorious buffet to come.

It is the same with philanthropy. A small gift added to a number of other small gifts can create a strong and vibrant pool of resources that can make a real difference in the communities we serve. And if those gifts are pooled into permanent funds, then we know that over time our individual gifts are never spent but are invested for the long term and will continue to give back year after year after year.

It is exactly this premise that fuels the “Touch Tomorrow” campaign. “Touch Tomorrow” is actually a set of permanent funds, each serving a specific geographic area, and each advised by people committed to that area. As these funds grow, the impact also grows, and more and more critical needs can be addressed in each community. Give where you live. Understand that your $10 or $25 or $50 or $100 gift to the Touch Tomorrow fund of your choice (Hilton Head/Daufuskie, Bluffton, Beaufort, Jasper, Hampton, or Colleton) will make a difference for that community in the long run. Or perhaps like me, you recognize the value of being a resident of the Lowcountry-at-large, and wish to support that larger effort through our Touch Tomorrow Endowment Fund for the Lowcountry area.

But know this. Whatever effort you choose to support, your gift, regardless of size, will be a gift of significance. Small really can make a big difference. And this is one of the everyday matters that makes every day matter.

Denise K. Spencer