Giving Back - Sacrificial Giving by Data People

Giving Back. For those of us who didn't grow up with much, we always try to remember what it was like and how important it is to help others. This is being sent in that light.

In data we frequently see initiatives claiming to do 'data for good', just like how we hear celebrities participate in events and indicate they give their time but rarely open their wallet...but always sort of hope each of us find something to do some sacrificial giving towards. When I say sacrificial giving, I am talking about investing in others. Maybe as Jerry Maguire said we live in cynical world...but hopefully tough times make us realize what we are here to give.

Our family has had a few such charity organizations over the years:

• The sister parish of the church I was confirmed in (HMC in Oregon, WI) was the first source of charitable giving for me, Catarina in San Marcos, Guatemala: https://madisoncatholicherald.org/sister-parishes/
• Luke House in the south side of Madison, WI (https://www.lukehousemadison.org/) that serves meals to the poor.
• H2O For Life (https://www.h2oforlifeschools.org/) that educates and runs programs for water projects in poor parts of the world.
• We continue to support our current parish relationship with Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Chimbote, Peru as part of the home program (https://stmichael-pl.org/sister-parish)

That being said a former high school classmate, Bulleh Bablitch-Norkeh has been doing great things for the people in Liberia, West Africa with the charity her and her husband started, GirlPowerAfrica (https://www.girlpowerafrica.org/).

We have participated in their School Program where for $110 you can help put a child through school. Since the United Nations states that 40% of girls have no schooling, personally I think it is a good investment. On to the data, according to GirlPowerAfrica:

• When a girl in the developing world receives 7 or more years of education: (1) She marries 4 years later; (2) Has 2.2 fewer children;
• An extra year of primary school boosts girls eventual wages by 10-20%
• An extra year of secondary school boosts wages an additional 15-25%
• When women in the developing world earn income they invest 90% to their families as compared to 30-40% by men

For those of us who work in data another charity to consider is Razia's Ray of Hope, its executive director is Patty Quigley. Patty is the widow of Pat Quigley who started the data warehouse practice at Price Waterhouse (PwC) in the 90's with Mike Schroeck and others before passing on 9/11. That practice and those of us who were part of it really built the foundation of the analytics world we live in today. Razia's Ray of Hope is working to educate girls in Afghanistan, and they can use all the help they can give. For more information check out: https://raziasrayofhope.org/

• The bottom line is for girls (and boys as well) to get to a place where they feel secure they need education, and there needs to be education for all. So one last quote from Jerry Maguire..."Show me the Money" and please take a moment and do data for good for any of these charities or charitable organizations that are closer to your home or your heart. Bless You All.