From left, Paul Dunne, Patrick Willis and Manuel Mesa attend the Association of Fundraising Professionals National Philanthropy Day on Tuesday at Green Acres Baptist Church CrossWalk Center in Tyler. Willis was honored with the organization’s Special Recognition Award. (The Nonprofit Group/Contributed Photo)

Slipping into my seat toward the back of the room, I hoped to go unnoticed. I knew many attendees but felt out of place, like a kid at the adult table. It was a room full of philanthropy giants.

I went because I was curious. It was the mid-nineties, and I was an executive director. I wanted to know who the successful fundraisers were in our community. I wanted to hear their stories.

I left the event struck by how little I understood donors. Everyone I thought of as a fundraiser was really a donor first. Passion for causes and deep personal convictions were unmistakable.

My curiosity continued but in a different way. Who were these donors who made it possible for all the nonprofits in our community to emerge, grow and survive from year to year? What guided their spirit of giving and motivated others to join them in a cause? There was much to learn.

This year’s National Philanthropy Day event, sponsored by the Association of Fundraising Professionals East Texas Chapter, reminded me of my first philanthropy event, giving stories I’ve heard since and lessons learned from each.

Great philanthropy stories come from ordinary folks who become giants over time. This year’s new giants include the Louis and Peaches Owen Family Foundation, Patrick Willis, Dr. Kenoye K. Eke, Sr and Shannon Glenney. They joined a long list of giants from previous years representing outstanding philanthropic individuals, companies, and organizations.

Humbled by the honor, each spoke of others who came before them, supported and encouraged them. In different ways, each described standing on the shoulders of giants.

The phrase “standing on a giant’s shoulders” dates back to medieval times. From Greek and Jewish writings to pictures in stained glass windows of Christian churches, the Latin phrase means “discovering the truth by building on previous discoveries.”

Anyone who has labored to raise funds for a cause they are passionate about has reached a moment of standing on the shoulders of the giants before them and discovering truth. The view is better from the shoulders of giants; we see what they cannot and yet lean on the wisdom they gained from previous experience.

Every giant has stories. Their unique responsibility is to share their stories so we can change the world together. Even the new honoree feels undeserving on their day, yet they look like giants as soon as their name goes into print. We need to listen to their stories.

The sum total of philanthropy stories is that giving matters.

Undoubtedly, the new honorees have changed the world, adding to the collective wisdom of all philanthropy giants. Everyone who climbs up on their shoulders will see further and be better donors.

The philanthropy giants I know always welcome me up onto their shoulders. They share their passion, joy, and lessons learned about giving wisely and effectively.

This time of year, we are reminded how many nonprofit organizations are in this community and how many donors are needed to accomplish each mission.

It is our turn to stand on the shoulders of all the philanthropy giants that went before us. It is our turn to look into the future and give to do what this community needs now or to impact a mission somewhere in the world. It’s our moment to change the world.

The National Philanthropy Day tagline adds one more dimension, a quote from Helen Keller, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” In my experience, this is exactly how the world changes: one donor at a time, yet joined with many other donors intent on supporting causes that make a real difference.

This year’s honorees are waiting for us to join them. It’s our turn to climb up onto the shoulders of giants because there’s so much yet to accomplish.

The change the world needs on any given day is required of all of us. As the holidays come closer and we make our last giving decisions for the year, find your giant, climb up, and give well together.