27 Nov, 2009
'Tis the Season of Giving
Charles Woodson donates $2 million to U-M hospital
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Charles Woodson wants to be known as more than a football player.
Donating $2 million to the new University of Michigan Mott Children's Hospital and Women's Hospital gives him a chance to do that.
The school announced Woodson's gift on Thanksgiving before he played for the Green Bay Packers against the Detroit Lions.
Then, he intercepted two passes — returning one for a score — forced a fumble, recovered it and had a sack.
"It was a good day," Woodson said after Green Bay's 34-12 win in Detroit.
His donation will support pediatric research by The Charles Woodson Clinical Research Fund in the $754-million, 1.1-million square foot hospital scheduled to open in 2012.
"He's really studied and tried to understand what the issues are in doing research in pediatrics," Dr. Valerie Castle said. "What most people don't know is that less than 10 percent of the National Institute of Health budget goes toward research in pediatric disease.
"When you study those patients, you often times get clues to adult diseases."
Woodson hopes to attract the world's best researchers who want to help children with cancer, heart disease, kidney disorders and autism.
"I want to be part of that symbol of hope," Woodson said. "So that they can say, 'I know I can beat this thing and there's people out there who will help me beat it.'"
Woodson said during a visit to Ann Arbor earlier this month that becoming a father in January motivated him to make the gift, altering his outlook on life.
"It can change a lot," he said.
Lloyd Carr, his coach at Michigan, hopes Woodson's gift pushes his peers to also give back.
"I think it's going to have a significant influence across the athletic world that he decided to do this," Carr said.
Woodson acknowledged feeling awkward about allowing a Fox TV reporter and crew to follow him as he visited patients on a day off in November, but said it was part of his mission.
"Half of the battle is about awareness," Woodson said. "When I signed on board to be a part of this team, that was going to be part of the deal. Part of making it work is me being a face or spokesman.
"I guess what bigger days can we do it to bring awareness to the cause when everybody is watching a Thanksgiving Day game?"
The native of Fremont, Ohio, helped Michigan win the national championship in 1997. He won the Heisman Trophy as a cornerback who also played wide receiver and returned punts.
His memories from college on and off the field led to him giving back financially.
"It was probably best three years of my life that I can remember, other than having my son," Woodson said. "When people still see me, even though I have been in Green Bay and Oakland, they still talk about Michigan."
Story and Photo found at http://news.yahoo.com.
The Widow’s Offering
41 And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. 42And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. 43And he called his disciples to him and said to them, "Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. 44For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on."
What does God's Story teach us about giving?
In the Lord's eyes, this poor widow give more than all the others put together, although her gift was by far the smallest. The value of a gift is not determined by it's amount but by the spirit in which it is given. A gift given grudgingly or for recognition loses its value. When you give, remember that gifts of any size are pleasing to God when they are given out of gratitude and a spirit of generosity. (Life Application Bible Study Notes)
As we transition from Thanksgiving to Christmas in just a matter of
hours, the immediate focus seems to be on the biggest sale instead of
an amazing Savior. Stores are competing for the dollars we will spend
by luring us to shop at 4am for the best deals. Somehow that seems to
make even our giving seem to be more about getting - getting
the biggest present to give, getting the best deal on the best gift.
But what if this year, our thinking shifted? What if this year, we
thought more like the widow in God's Story and we were willing to give,
even if it hurts?
Connecting My Story to God's Story
- Ask God for to open your eyes and ears to the needs around you this Christmas Season.
- Check out the Advent Conspiracy website for some ways to make this Christmas more about giving than getting.
- Ask a friend if they heard about Today's Story and begin a conversation about giving. Ask, "If you could give away $2 million where would you give it?" Be ready to answer that question yourself as well!
- Talk with some of your friends to come up with some ideas about focusing on giving more than getting this Christmas.
- Talk to your youth pastor or campus club leader about how your group might get more involved in giving to the community where you live in the coming weeks.
- Is there someone in need in your school or neighborhood? Talk with your parents about some ways that you might help them anonymously this Christmas.
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