Hi everyone I’m Harry – I don’t work directly for Giving What We Can (GWWC) but have been a supporter, pledger and advocate for effective giving a number of years. 

As part of the Giving Season high-impact causes spotlight, I want to share with you a bit about what motivates me to give and the cause that I support: Global Health and Wellbeing Fund.

I am a firm believer in the role luck plays in one’s life. Having spent a decade in the military, travelling to 55 countries across that time, I saw first hand the impact good/bad fortune plays in people lives. I spent a lot time in Africa and whilst in Freetown, Sierra Leone I was given the opportunity to do a couple of days painting an orphanage. When reflecting on this time I realised that whilst I had found the work important, the impact we had was negligible, literally “painting over the cracks”. Seeing the inequality of the world gave me a “why” and finding Effective Giving and GWWC gave me the “how”.

The Global Health and Wellbeing fund has impact by removing the suffering caused by preventable and curable diseases. What I love about GWWC’s approach is that I am able to trust them to do what they do best. Collect data, identity high impact causes and charities, and provide me a platform to donate and support. 

Ten years on, effective giving has become a foundational part of who I am. It has improved my life no end and made me a happier (and hopefully better) person. As father of two young kids, I am grateful that GWWC provides me a platform to be a role model and hopefully inspire future generations of givers! 

Much like the Stoic quote from Marcus Aurelius: "Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one,". Effective Giving provides us an opportunity to have impact and do good now, today, and I know I can rely on GWWC and their incredible team to partner with the best and the brightest so that we can continue to make a difference.