Giving is a universal principle that many people follow, not because they are expecting something in return, but because it feels good to make an impact on a family or  an individual. When I worked at JP Morgan in the Private Bank, wealthy people would donate religiously to great causes or just to a foundation. I’m sure some of them did it for the tax break, but I am also sure that many of them wanted to offer more hope to children and families that were less fortunate than they were. Recently I have been researching good charities for my family and I to partner with for a cause that we believe in. There are so many charities and so many causes, how can someone choose the best charity that meets their prerequisites? I did a google search for top charities in America and I received a plethora of websites with a ton of information about large and small charities and about every imaginable cause. I was overwhelmed at the number of charities that were available to potential givers like myself. As I watched the Today show on NBC, I saw an opportunity to give to St. Judes Children Hospital in New York for their “Thanks and Giving” program that they promote during the holidays. I thought it would be excellent opportunity to donate and give to a cause to help children as they go through difficult times in their life at such a young age.

Many may ask, how does giving help me? What if I don’t have any money to give? Those are all valid questions, however there is still something that you can do to make an impact. You can donate your time to help organizations during the holidays. Some of the clothing that you no longer use can help homeless people as well as other people. There is a reason that people like Oprah Winfrey and Ellen Degeneres continue to be successful in their careers and I am firm believer it is because they give. Most people are receivers and not givers by nature. When you move to that next level of giving it can change your life forever. One of my Twitter buddies (Holly Robinson Peete) has a foundation that is dedicated to providing education and getting funding for Parkinson’s Disease and Autism. I recommend checking out this foundation to get an idea of the impact that you can make, just by being educating and giving to a great cause.

As I was reading Kiplinger’s, which is one of my favorite personal finance magazines, I came across another interesting piece of information in which giving can have a positive impact on my family and I. When you give a cash donation of $250 or a $500 non cash donation, it is typically a tax deduction with a receipt. What I didn’t know is what is going to change my life forever and it is a wealthy tip that most people don’t talk about. Most people donate with cash, but if you were to donate with appreciated stock to your favorite charity then you would be eligible for a double tax break as long as you owned the stock for a year or longer. How crazy is that? What’s even more crazy is that you don’t have to pay any capital gains tax on the gift and you get to deduct the full market value, not what you originally paid for it. That is insane! Where has then rule been all of my life. I would have been purchasing shares of stock to give as opposed to writing a check. The best thing about this rule is that the charity doesn’t have to pay taxes on it either. This can change your blueprint too, imagine getting a double tax break for making a decision to give.

Most of my clients had private foundations to be able to donate their specific causes, but you don’t need that. You can start out by contacting several different charities and making a payment over the phone. My goal is to save $10,000 and start a donor advised fund, where I can partner with a bank and direct my gifts to charities of my choice.

Make an impact on an organization, a family, or an individual today because it can be life changing. Below are a list of charities that I am following and plan on donating to in the future, please check out their websites:

March of Dimes

Autism

Breast Cancer

Diabetes

Boys and Girls Clubs of America

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Often times athletes get a bad rap for what they are doing off the court and what they are not doing right on the court, but this story just touched my heart. As a person that works with these high profile athletes, it excites me to know that people like Shaquile O’Neal still exist in the world today. This story made national headlines as the body of little Shaniya Davis was found on the side of the road in North Carolina. As the father of two girls I am disgusted by the act that took place, in which someone felt they needed to violate and murder a five year old. I have said time after time that these people who commit sex crimes should have an example made out of them. A violent act like this in another country is punishable by stone throwing or castration. Jail time is not enough to keep an individual from committing future crimes against children.

Shaquile O’Neal said that he was touched and that the story bought a tear to his eye. The cost of the funeral were not revealed, but most experts say that typical cost for a child’s funeral is approximately $4500. That is awesome that a person of his stature can still be touched as a human being and step up and do something out of the kindness of his heart. The lesson in my opinion is that giving and touching is one the most empowering acts that an individual can do to make an impact on others. Shaquile O’Neal is a special player in NBA history, but he understands that he can make a much larger impact off the court.

I just read something that was very disturbing to me as an individual and as a life coach. Based on a new study, done by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia. According to the study, nearly 36% of African Americans are obese, more than any other ethnic or racial group in the country. The CDC study experts believe that there are reasons for the differences. Some of the differences pointed out that lower income individuals are more likely to have less access to medical care, work out facilities, and healthier food options. I can’t say that I disagree with this, however I see people whose economic status is not an issue that are obese on a regular basis. I choose not to accept those excuses offered by the CDC. I’d like to have a discussion with the readers of this blog to come up with reasons for why African Americans are more obese than any other group and also to help develop education for people to teach them about their Body Mass Index and how it affects their weight.

As a physiology major my first three years in college, I know the importance of nutrition and working out on a consistent basis. Diabetes, heart disease, and many other diseases have been linked to obesity. I believe that African Americans have to do a better job. I was recently at a family reunion and there were at least 150 people in attendance and over half the room was overweight. What can we do to change the statistics, better yet, change people’s blueprint? The mission of this blog is to help people to discover a new blueprint, one that creates balance in their life through health, relationships, finances, work, and their career.

I’m late to acknowledge that the King of Pop has passed away, but I wanted to take some time to reflect on how Michael Jackson has made an impact on me.

I grew up in West Germany and as a kid and there wasn’t many options for music. Michael Jackson was the only music that I had to listen while I was overseas. When I returned state side, that is when Michael released the Bad album and I thought “Bad” was the greatest song ever. I am grateful that I had a chance to witness Michael in his prime, doing the thing that he was most passionate about.

As an adult and father, I started passing on Michael’s music before his death to my four year daughter because his music was so influential and timeless that it didn’t matter how old you were when you heard Michael, but that you tried to imitate Michael on the dance floor and sing it the same way that he did in his videos.

As a singer and performer, Michael was absolutely the best. His personal life was subject to many obstacles and adversaties that made it hard for him to overcome. I was never a fan of the multiple surgical procedures that he had done to his face or the public court battles regarding him allegedly having children sleep in his with him. That would freak me out! One thing for sure though, Michael sure was talented. He could make a hit with anyone. It is that talent that we will miss the most.

RIP MJ