Philanthropy: It's what holds societies together, especially during hard times. Philanthropy, voluntarism, are born out of the values we hold as a nation, about caring for each other, and conveyed by the volunteer efforts of individuals, religions and non-profit groups. We are facing hard times now, and the question is: Have we institutionalized caring and left it to the professionals? Philanthropy is a hallmark of Utah and its people.

As our nation became more complex, we created public institutions to take care of those in need and those suffering in our communities. One of the unintended consequences of our growing, complex and sophisticated society is that it has become more mobile and impersonal. Caring for one another, and a sense of community, were soon dismissed by writing a check to the IRS. We quickly became content to let "our neighbor's problem" be left to the government. And rather than taking the time to contribute directly to volunteer organizations, combined giving entities were created to broker funds to community-based and volunteer organizations, giving rise to "I gave at the office."

Empathy takes on new meaning when one has direct contact with someone. Conversely, distant financial giving keeps one from having to make an emotional investment in a relationship. It is often those who operate volunteer organizations, such as churches and community-based organizations, serving their own groups, that are more successful in making sure people are actually helped. They are passionate about their cause and committed in advancing it.

Politically, they may have little influence and are unsophisticated in how to gain support from those who have the power. In their zeal to fight for their cause, they often alienate those who might otherwise sympathize with them.

They frequently find themselves having to turn to tactics that are outrageous in order to gain public awareness to their plight through demonstrations and rallies. The general public may see them as troublemakers and resent their making a nuisance with their causes. Perhaps the resentment is that it touches the conscience of those who don't want to know its existence. Nonetheless, the volunteers, with their fervent dedication, remind us of the values that have made our nation succeed and overcome the tough times and dangers that have threatened our way of life — the dignity of every individual, commitment to community, work for the common good.

Our nation and our people are facing tough times, not unlike the depression of the 1930s. We have growing unemployment, longer food lines, home foreclosures, lack of affordable health care, and those public and nonprofit institutions that help people in need are unable to meet the growing demands. Utahns have been proud of the values our forefathers and pioneers fostered, especially that of reaching out, helping each other, and of voluntarism. Utahns have always been known to pull together in times of crisis. The challenges our nation now faces require us to call upon the goodness and kindness that lie within us to meet those challenges. And while we have created a host of public and non-profit institutions to help those in need, we must listen and join those who have demonstrated their passion and commitment to serving those less fortunate among us. They have made us aware of the challenges we face in overcoming the tough times ahead.

Those advocates have awakened the spirit of giving and sharing that we had but now, too often, have relegated to the annual giving-season. Giving and looking after each other has held us together. Today, the stakes are too high and our sense of voluntarism must be commensurate with the challenges we face.

A Utah native, John Florez has founded several Hispanic civil-rights organizations; been on the staff of Sen. Orrin Hatch, served on more than 45 state, local and volunteer boards; and filled White House appointments, including deputy assistant secretary of labor and as a member of the commission on Hispanic education. E-mail: jdflorez@comcast.net.