For anyone who feels like today’s youth are a reason to worry about our future, read the nomination  below for the REAL Richest People in America project emailed to me yesterday. I have nothing but pride in today’s youth when I hear stories like this.“If I have seen further,” Sir Isaac Newton, famously said, “it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”When I was little, my father seemed literally a giant to me. I still vividly remember him carrying my younger brother on his shoulders as the three of us took three brand new basketballs to the Ventura Fire Department to donate them to Toys For Tots for Christmas. Each year thereafter, Dad would take us to the sporting goods store so my brother and I could personally pick out balls to buy and donate to kids less fortunate than us such as at the local Special Olympics and the Boys & Girls Clubs. Later, he encouraged us to use some of our own hard-earned allowance to buy one ball each; soon we were buying two balls each; then three. In short, Dad instilled in us the true spirit of giving. This past Christmas my brother and I each bought and donated $100 worth of sports balls.

A few weeks ago, I was talking with my friend Patti Wood, who also is a professional speaker. We were talking about how fortunate we felt to have the circle of friends and colleagues we have in the world of motivational speaking. She told me how amazed some of her friends were that she had access to business authors, inspirational book authors, and some of the top professional speakers in the country. Both of us have friends who have authored New York Times best sellers, co-authored Chicken Soup for the Soul books, and been featured on CNN, FOX, and in newspapers like the Wall Street Journal and USA Today. One of my good speaker friends is a business speaker named Terry Paulson. He is a columnist for a newspaper in Southern California and wrote this for his column in the Ventura County Star: 

Doing good defines rich It’s not how much you earn, but how much you help By Terry Paulson, Phd

How do you define rich?

How do you define rich? Is it the one who dies with the most toys or the largest stock portfolio? Is it defined by how high you climb on the Forbes “World’s Billionaires” list? Or is it better defined by the personal riches that come by serving and making a difference for others? Recent experiences have reinforced my belief that living rich lives is far more important than merely “being rich.” The return on your life is more important than the return on your investments.
Janel Perez, a nurse practitioner here in Ventura County, recently returned from a Project Compassion medical mission trip to Huatulco, Mexico, and shared her experiences with other members at Westlake Lutheran Church. The passion and joy that radiated from her as she talked about her mission experience spoke volumes about what it is to “truly be rich.” “I received much more than I gave,” she said. “My life will never be the same. The hardest part is explaining to my husband how there is a way to use our money better than putting in a swimming pool. My priorities have changed, and my faith is so much stronger. I look forward to being able to go again.”
Tim Richardson, professional speaker and founder of “The REAL Richest People List” (http://www.TheRichestPeopleinAmerica.com), echoed Janel’s sentiments.
“I believe too much emphasis is placed on material wealth and not enough on the wealth and richness that are truly important and fulfilling,” he said. “True richness comes from the love of giving back to society and happens whether you make $10,000 or $10 million a year. It’s not just about how good you are; it’s about what good you do.”
Tim has started his “REAL Richest People List” in hopes of inspiring businesses and individuals to give more of their profits and their time in making a difference in the world. Recipients are honored not by how much they have, but by how much they give. Here’s a sampling of nominees from this year’s list.
— Carol Schillios, a credit union consultant and founder of the Fabric of Life Foundation, has helped Mali’s poorest of the poor — young begging girls — learn sewing, fabric weaving, dyeing and beading skills to generate income and break the cycle of poverty.
— John Wood, founder of Room to Read, has helped open more than 280 schools and 3,600 multilingual libraries across the developing world, distributed more than 2.8 million children’s books and supported more than 2,300 girls with long-term scholarships.
— Nancy Rivard, an American Airlines flight attendant and Founder of Airline Ambassadors, coordinates missions to hand-deliver supplies to children in need and escort children who need medical care. Nancy affirmed: “A life oriented around oneself does not ultimately bring happiness. A life oriented around others does.”
Tim is accepting nominations for next year’s list with the goal of announcing the “400 REAL Richest People in America” as Forbes releases its “Richest Americans” list. Tim is now traveling the country showing companies and organizations how to experience greater richness by supporting giving. Richardson claims that there is a direct correlation between giving and employee morale, customer loyalty and even corporate profitability.
Send in your nominations now, and if you want to explore this approach to richness further, see the movie, “The Ultimate Gift.” As you unwrap this movie gift, you’ll laugh, you’ll cry and you’ll be reminded of the gifts life provides — the gifts of work, friends, family, money, learning, problems, laughter, dreams, giving, gratitude, love and the gift of a day.
This FoxFaith inspirational drama brings to life Jim Stovall’s novel and boasts a stellar cast that includes James Garner, Brian Dennehy and young Abigail Breslin, fresh off her Oscar-nominated performance in “Little Miss Sunshine.” The movie title refers to an intriguing enticement offered to a spoiled grandson by his recently deceased and extremely wealthy grandfather. Via a series of video messages, the grandfather promises the irresponsible young man that if he completes a series of tasks — “gifts” — he may receive a substantial inheritance. After enduring a series of humiliating episodes in which he experiences life as a homeless person, does backbreaking labor at a ranch and travels to South America to come to terms with the death of his father, the young man begins to change. We watch him find a life-changing relationship with a beautiful single mother and her feisty young daughter who is dying of leukemia.
Enough of the story line. This movie will challenge you to have conversations with your own children and grandchildren about the things that matter most in life. Instead of just leaving them money, you might want to leave them a few more meaningful messages. “The Ultimate Gift” will leave you thankful for the blessing life provides when lived richly.
At this tax time, take a moment to count the blessings you have received by making a difference for others. There are no taxes due on those riches.
— Terry Paulson, of Agoura Hills, is a psychologist, speaker, author and host to the PoliticalTalk Blog. Contact him at http://www.politicalassessment.com or at terry@terrypaulson.com

Tim Richardson is an inspirational speaker who speaks about how giving increases employee morale, lowers employee turnover, increases customer loyalty and creates higher profits for Fortune 500 companies, associations, and national conventions. He is the founder of the The Worlds Biggest Blog Party an event which will connect bloggers from all over the world to raise money for charity. He is also founder and president of the Bill Walter Melanoma Research Fund. For more information on Tim, go to www.TimRichardson.com

I read this in USA TODAY and thought it worth sharing…

By DeWayne Wickham

He is neither a presidential wannabe nor a political thug. Rosen is not a bigot or a high-profile fool. And as best I can tell, he isn’t a heartless robber baron. What he is, however, is a very wealthy man who likes his charitable giving to be up close and personal.

Rosen, who owns seven Orlando-area hotels, has put to good use Booker T. Washington’s admonition to “cast down your buckets where you are.” Since 1993, Rosen has used his wealth to help revitalize Tangelo Park, a once drug-infested, trouble-plagued unincorporated community near his International Drive hotel properties.

“This kind of program, if replicated, will change our society so we don’t even recognize it,” Rosen says of the Tangelo Park Program he funds. The twin cornerstones of this effort is Rosen’s pledge to provide free preschool education for all 2-, 3- and 4-year-old children, and a college education for all high school graduates in Tangelo Park.

Rosen’s largess has helped turn things around in this community, which has a little more than 2,400 people and is nearly 90% black.

Notable progress

“This is an amazing story,” says Charles Dziuban, a University of

Rosen, who is white and grew up in the Hell’s Kitchen section of New York City, thinks this success can be replicated in other cities. He wants other wealthy people to follow his lead. “If they’d come to

More help needed

But Rosen, who says he has given more than $7 million to the Tangelo Park Program since its creation, wants his wealthy brethren to do more to help problem-plagued, impoverished neighborhoods.

“Government is just too dense, too stupid, too inept to do this,” he says. “If Oprah came down here and saw what we’re doing, she would do it somewhere. If I could get (NBA Commissioner David) Stern to come here, I think he would get every NBA team involved in a project like ours” in their cities.

It might take just that to get a lot of this nation’s wealthy to follow Rosen’s lead.

Most of last year’s record-breaking gift-giving by the rich went to colleges and universities, foundations, arts groups, hospitals and museums, The Chronicle of Philanthropy reported. Though these are all good causes, they will be of questionable value if we don’t salvage the neighborhoods where crime and ignorance fester.

Rosen says charitable giving is much more rewarding when the donor gets personally involved. Two years ago, the U.S. Dream Academy — a Washington, D.C.-area group that helps at-risk children realize their dreams — seemed to agree. It gave Rosen its President’s Award for his work in Tangelo

But what Rosen wants more than recognition is for others to emulate him. He wants more of this nation’s rich to use their money to tackle the stubborn problems that cause poor children to begin school with an educational deficit, underachieve in the classroom and drop out before graduation.

He understands these problems give rise to the kind of pathological behavior that threatens to reduce our society to an archaeological dig. He thinks the rich of this country ought to do something about it.

And I think he’s right.

Tim Richardson is an inspirational speaker who speaks about how giving increases employee morale, lowers employee turnover, increases customer loyalty and creates higher profits for Fortune 500 companies, associations, and national conventions. He is the founder of the The Worlds Biggest Blog Party an event which will connect bloggers from all over the world to raise money for charity. He is also founder and president of the Bill Walter Melanoma Research Fund. For more information on Tim, go to www.TimRichardson.com

Funny how things work out. Yesterday, I wrote about giving advice to someone. Today I received some. I had lamented to my good friend Bruce Turkel that the Richest People in America project, was moving more slowly than I had hoped. He wrote me an incredible email of support. I wish for everyone a friend as supportive and giving as my buddy Bruce. Here’s what he wrote:“Welcome to the world of the visionaries. Unfortunately, what you’re experiencing is what designers, artists and most good creative people go through all the time. We are aware of things before others are and then have a heck of a time trying to sell our ideas to people who don’t ‘get it’ yet.The author of the design column for Automobile Magazine, Robert Cumberford, said it best: “Designers see things before other people do. That’s what they’re paid to do.”

Tim Richardson is an inspirational speaker who speaks about how giving increases employee morale, lowers employee turnover, increases customer loyalty and creates higher profits for Fortune 500 companies, associations, and national conventions. He is the founder of the The Worlds Biggest Blog Party an event which will connect bloggers from all over the world to raise money for charity. He is also founder and president of the Bill Walter Melanoma Research Fund. For more information on Tim, go to www.TimRichardson.com

I received an email this morning that intrigued me. I immediately was reminded of Dear Abby. Though I am not in the business of dispensing advice like this, for some reason, I felt compelled to write. At first, I thought it was one of those, “send me your bank account number and I will deposit millions of dollars into your account” emails. The way he contacted me made me realize that wasn’t the case so I decided to respond to a man from Pakistan who is depressed about his future.I am not sure how he found me or how I can help him since there have been times when I have been uncertain of my future. I know that one idea in a book, seminar, sermon or by an encouraging friend has the potential to change a life. Words are power – spoken or written.  Below is his email and my response to him. I would love to forward him some advice from some of my blog readers. How would you respond if you got such an email?

This past Wednesday, I was the motivational speaker at local event. In the audience was one of the first people I interviewed for my Richest People in America project. I was so honored to have Dr. Ron Garst in the audience. He has had a hospital named after him, had one of his patients honored on a postage stamp, trained over 100 doctors, and has spearheaded an effort to send orthopedic supplies all over the world (5.3 million dollars worth!). Born in 1918, Dr. Ronald Garst has lived from East to West in this country and abroad in India, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Pakistan, Indonesia, Dominica, Haiti and Dominican Republic. Though he retired in the early1980’s, he continues to live rich active in wood working, and until recently, collecting orthopedic supplies to send all over the world. This young-at-heart gentleman is 88 years old and he and his wife have been married for over 50 years. His richness comes from serving for 35 years in the medical missionary field. When I asked what advice he would give to young people, Dr. Garst said, “Find out what you want to do with your life and do it, but don’t do it for money.” He did what he wanted to because he loved it, and it combined his many interests. He always liked working with his hands and found a way to use that gift in service to others. I have always heard, “Pursue your passion and the money will follow.” I think Dr. Garst has proved a different proverb: “Pursue your passion, and you will be rich!” As an orthopedic surgeon, I am guessing Dr. Ronald Garst could have made millions of dollars in his career. He probably could have lived in the most luxurious house in an exclusive community. He could have traveled first class to fabulous Five Star resorts all over the world and could have golfed his retirement away. Because he defined being wealthy differently than many and stuck to a dream he had as a small boy, hundreds of people all over the world have had richer and more blessed lives. Doctors have been trained to continue the great work he started. There are many people all over this world that are rich because Dr. Ronald Garst pursued his childhood dream. I know he’s wealthy for a life lived with purpose and I am richer for have met him.

Tim Richardson is an inspirational speaker who speaks about how giving increases employee morale, lowers employee turnover, increases customer loyalty and creates higher profits for Fortune 500 companies, associations, and national conventions. He is the founder of the The Worlds Biggest Blog Party an event which will connect bloggers from all over the world to raise money for charity. He is also founder and president of the Bill Walter Melanoma Research Fund. For more information on Tim, go to www.TimRichardson.com

Happy Early St. Patrick’s Day!

One of the cool things about trying to find the REAL Richest People in America, is to find stories of people people like Jacquie Berglund who has a passion for brewing and selling her own beer. AND she givies away the profits, every bit. Since September 2000, when she started Finnegan’s Amber, she’s given away nearly $60,000 to poverty programs across the state of Minnesota. Jacquie oversees a volunteer crew of seven who meet monthly to give direction to the company. Her lawyer, her creative team, and her PR company, all work pro bono. She says, “When people help me out, I pay them in beer. We are like the little beer engine that could with a lot of commitments from people wanting to making a difference”, says Jacquie. In her college days, Jacquie dreamed of starting her own non-profit company. She was always thinking of ideas for a business but at the same time she wanted to do something that would leave the world a better place. She lived in Paris for seven years, where she worked on development aid and development assistance and eventually did a masters thesis on development aid. Jacquie had a keen interest in helping others help themselves effectively. After moving back to MN, she became a director of marketing for a group of Irish pubs. In her job, she was giving lot of money away. But her concern was that the money was given to so many different causes that the contributions weren’t making an impact on any one cause. During that time, she volunteered at a homeless shelter and she found it ironic that she had to get up during the middle of the night to wake some of residents who had jobs. She wondered why so many were homeless. She become frustrated and wondered why a person who could work fulltime seemed incapable of taking care of their basic needs. One day while working, she had an epiphany. Jacquie said, “I came up with the idea for the beer company and decided that all profits would be given to a foundation. I knew if we picked one cause to support in the community, we would have far greater impact.” Within a year, Jacquie had a business plan and a product. Finnegan’s Amber was introduced in the pub she worked for at the time. It was an immediate hit. The owner of the pub told her that she was way more passionate about her beer than working for him. So being a considerate Minnesotan she didn’t quit without first asking her boss if she could leave to pursue her dream fulltime.

Her next step is to create a model that will move Finnegan’s beer into other markets like
Chicago, Boston and New York. Like her

Minnesota operation, all the money would go back to those communities to help those in poverty. One of her recipients of the Finnegan Foundation is an apartment community North of Minneapolis that caters to homeless youth. The foundation recently raised money to buy all new furniture. Jacquie said it was amazing to watch the homeless kids moving in with all brand new furniture. “It was a big confidence boost to them and their self respect”, Jacquie said. “That is the kind of stuff that is really powerful”. The Finnegan’s Foundation supporters are very involved with the non-profit activities they support. Each month, they visit a different nonprofit so everyone can see the difference they are making but also they can also witness firsthand the poverty issues in the community. She told me that a big part of what moves her is engaging the volunteers.” I get such joy of out people sharing their talents and time for a project that is bigger than me. It is so exciting to see them get fulfillment through giving back in a fun way. So many are enriched by this project and it includes a whole community.” Part of her motivation may have been her upbringing. She admitted that she grew up poor as the daughter of a waitress and a janitor. She also had the experience of moving up social classes as her father worked his was through school and ended up in management at a hospital. “You can ALWAYS move up,” Jacquie says. “If we create opportunities for people, help them to build their own capacity, provide tools for them and give them hope, I think anyone can do anything!” Is Jacquie rich? I think so. As she told me, “I absolutely love what I do. I have the best job in the world and am passionate about it. I own a beer company and am able to give all the profits back to the community.” According to Jacquie, it doesn’t get any better than that.

Tim Richardson is an inspirational speaker who speaks about how giving increases employee morale, lowers employee turnover, increases customer loyalty and creates higher profits for Fortune 500 companies, associations, and national conventions. He is the founder of the The Worlds Biggest Blog Party an event which will connect bloggers from all over the world to raise money for charity. He is also founder and president of the Bill Walter Melanoma Research Fund. For more information on Tim, go to www.TimRichardson.com

A few weeks ago I wrote about Team Hoyt. I was just blown away by the great love Dick has for his son. He is truly one of the Richest People In America. It seems many people feel the same way I do, including Rick Reilly of Sports Illustrated. Here’s what he wrote about Dick….

See the video here.

Tim Richardson is an inspirational speaker who speaks about how giving increases employee morale, lowers employee turnover, increases customer loyalty and creates higher profits for Fortune 500 companies, associations, and national conventions. He is the founder of the The Worlds Biggest Blog Party an event which will connect bloggers from all over the world to raise money for charity. He is also founder and president of the Bill Walter Melanoma Research Fund. For more information on Tim, go to www.TimRichardson.com

See her on Ellen, highlighted for her work with Katrina Krewe. She was also recently on CBS’s Early Show. Becky’s RICH and one corner of the world is better because of her.

Tim Richardson is an inspirational speaker who speaks about how giving increases employee morale, lowers employee turnover, increases customer loyalty and creates higher profits for Fortune 500 companies, associations, and national conventions. He is the founder of the The Worlds Biggest Blog Party an event which will connect bloggers from all over the world to raise money for charity. He is also founder and president of the Bill Walter Melanoma Research Fund. For more information on Tim, go to www.TimRichardson.com

Someone emailed to tell me they had read my Richest People in America list on reddit which, by the way, is a work in progress. I am using Forbes release last week as the beginning of a project to find 400 of the REAL Richest People in America by September when they will release their 400 Richest Americans list. When I first thought about doing this, I must confess I had some conflicting thoughts. Questions popped into my mind like “Would people give credence to a list created by individual?” and “How do you quantity a list in a world that likes metrics?” Rather than over analyze each of those questions and wait until I had a established a very methodical process for finding RICH people, I decided to just do it and make it a work in progress. After all, finished is better than perfect. I felt that since no one (that I can see) is offering an alternative to Forbes list, it needed to be done. Also, how can one measure the impact giving has on the world? Who’s to say that dramatically changing the economic opportunities in one small village or town isn’t as important as a philanthropist who gives away millions? I knew there would be people who would think it was great and I am thankful for that. I also knew that there would be many who would be critical. But I also know this, if you do nothing, people will be critical. It’s human nature. All I am attempting is to use my voice both as a professional speaker and writer to call attention to all kinds of people and businesses who use their passion to make a difference. If people start thinking deeper about the issues and what it means to be rich, that is a start. I welcome the responses both supportive and challenging. It makes me think deeper too.

I took a few comments I saw on Reddit and posted below.
“I get it. They are rich in heart.”

“You are as rich as you choose to be. If you are happy with what you have and don’t need to take from others to maintain that state, then you are as rich as Bill Gates.”

“In the end, if there is an item that the really rich people have, it is time, not money. I’ve often felt sorry for the people I see running around with pinched faces on Bay Street in Toronto, they didn’t have time, nor will they have it ever less they suddenly reject everything that keeps them running around like that.”

“It’s funny that pirates were always going around searching for treasure, and they never realized that the real treasure was the fond memories they were creating.”

“Before actually clicking the link, I mocked the title as something that would have some sappy dog orphanage stories on it, but then when I actually saw what it was, I was shocked to see that it was just that! I am all for volunteering (I volunteer every week at the local food not bombs), but it doesn’t make you the richest person in America.”

“It’s nice to see something inspiring and heartwarming on reddit for a change.”

“Very inspiring stories… thank you for posting the link!”

“Do-gooders.

“Berkshire has said that it lost about $3.4 billion to hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma during 2005. $3.4 billion. Of course, it didn’t really “lose” the money, but rather upheld it’s end of the deal that all insurance companies make. Adam Smith is alive and well–and I think that you’ll find many, not all, but many people with a charitable mindset are indulging in a form of self-therapy, or are enjoying cushy administrative sinecures (at large orgs, like the Red Cross), but without the pressures of the competitive world.”

Tim Richardson is an inspirational speaker who speaks about how giving increases employee morale, lowers employee turnover, increases customer loyalty and creates higher profits for Fortune 500 companies, associations, and national conventions. He is the founder of the The Worlds Biggest Blog Party an event which will connect bloggers from all over the world to raise money for charity. He is also founder and president of the Bill Walter Melanoma Research Fund. For more information on Tim, go to www.TimRichardson.com