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Philanthropy as charitable acts or other good works that help others or society as a whole, can include donating money to a worthy cause, volunteering time and/or effort, or engaging in other forms of altruism. An effective way to build a legacy of philanthropy is establishing a family foundation that prioritizes the family’s shared beliefs and encourages a continued involvement in organization’s that align with the family’s values.
Legacy of Philanthropy
There is an enhanced commitment to philanthropy within the Teamer Family which was established by Dr. Charles C. Teamer Sr. His volunteerism at the United Way and involvement on the board led to Dr. Teamer, serving as the first African-American chair of the board and being inducted into the Tocqueville society.
The Tocqueville Society, founded in 1984, was inspired by Alexis de Tocqueville’s observations of civic engagement and generosity during his travels in North America. These reflections, captured in his book “Democracy in America,” praised Americans’ spirit of volunteerism and community building. That became the foundation of the Society’s mission.
Continuing the family’s involvement at the United Way. Roderic F. Teamer, Sr. devoted his time, talent, and treasure to create an impact both nationally and on our community through United Way of Southeast Louisiana, United Way of Dade County and the Capital Area United Way in Baton Rouge. He dedicated almost 12 years of his professional career supporting community programs and services.
Our Commitment
At Teamer Strategy Group, the legacy of philanthropy is woven into the mission and vision of the organization. We have been able to accomplish this by:
Defining our values and identifying the organizations that align with our mission.
Considering organizations that our members have already become involved with and continue to engage with them.
Identifying where we “fit” in those organizations.
There are several ways to become involved in an organization. You do not have to seek the same role or responsibilities, rather, find your niche and the way you’d like to support. Also, you don’t have to be attached to one organization. Seek out organizations that align with your individual mission as well.
It wasn’t until 1990 that I personally became involved with United Way, serving as a loaned executive through the Urban League of Greater New Orleans. From my experience, I realized how important it was to volunteer by raising funds to benefit our community. These experiences along with my growing understanding of what philanthropy really is inspired me to want to give more and do more.
Philanthropy & Democracy
Alexis De Tocqueville’s official purpose was to study the American penal system, but his real interest was America herself. The most important result was the reflection on equality and freedom known as Democracy in America. In today’s society, new concerns have developed about the deterioration of democracy and the freedom of American citizens. Non-profit organizations and grant-makers are encouraged to continue to work together to increase philanthropic efforts and reignite the spirit of democracy through advocacy and volunteerism that increase constructive dialogue and civic engagement.
Reflecting on equality and freedom (democracy) in today’s society, we should ask ourselves the following questions:
In what ways can we improve democracy through philanthropy?
How does philanthropy impact civic engagement?
What opportunities do philanthropic organizations have to instill Tocqueville’s original appreciation of democracy in their grantmaking?
Impact of Philanthropy
I had not realized that my own family had benefited from United Way agencies that provided services in the lower 9th ward where I grew up the fourth of six children and a first-generation college student. I was not aware of how humble my beginnings were as my parents made sure we had what we needed growing up and were always helping our neighbors who seemed less fortunate than we were.
Even with moderate resources and raising the Barnes clan, my parents also gave to our church. My Dad would always quote Acts 20:35, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” And Luke 12:48, “To whom much is given, much is required.” These were the values my parents instilled in us to always be willing to help others as much as we had been helped. Between the values my parents taught me and my exposure to United Way through the Teamers, I realized that my parents were the first individuals to teach me about philanthropy.
Future of Philanthropy
As I envision the future of philanthropy, I continue to promote our family's values and instill them within my own children. Embracing this call to action, my daughters are members of Women United. However, all three of my children are carrying out our legacy of philanthropy while creating their own. Tai is the Executive Director of the Beautiful Foundation which provides a safe environment for leadership development of underserved young women in our community. Tia is CEO of Project Purple Butterfly, a non-profit she created in 2019 almost a decade after being diagnosed with epilepsy in middle school to support the epilepsy community and promote epilepsy awareness and seizure first aid education. Rod Jr is CEO of Teamer Tackle, a non-profit focused on tackling issues that impact underserved individuals in our community.
So what are you doing or what can you begin doing to help build democracy through philanthropy whether big or small? I would love to know how you are creating your own legacy or carrying out that of your family or employer.
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