dayofcharity

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How much does it cost to run the United Nations? 

Common questions answered by the United Nations Spokesperson.

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In this interview with Vatican Radio, Jim Towey speaks about the book and his personal experience.

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"To Love and Be Loved"

A new book scheduled for release in September offers never-heard-before stories and insights into the life of Mother Teresa of Calcutta shared by someone who worked closely with her.

American author Jim Towey has been associated with the Missionaries of Charity, the congregation founded by Saint Teresa of Calcutta dedicated to service of the poorest of the poor, for 37 years. He has worked both full-time and as a volunteer in a multitude of capacities for the Missionaries of Charity who serve the poor in 139 countries globally.

Firsthand account.

In his book, he recounts his time helping Mother Teresa and offers a unique firsthand perspective of the "miraculous woman behind the saint," especially during the challenging later years of her life.  Jim Towey served as a trusted advisor and personal friend of Mother Teresa for twelve years. As a lawyer, he also helped her manage various legal affairs which he details in the book.

Towey met Mother Teresa in India in the 1980s when he visited as a United States Congress staff member and lawyer on a mission to the region. Mother Teresa's charisma, dedication and service to the poor that he witnessed profoundly affected him. The experience led him to start offering to help in the soup kitchens of the Missionaries of Charity and later to leave his job and livelihood to become a full-time volunteer for Mother Teresa as a special assistant to her.

Mother Teresa's legacy

September will also mark the 25th anniversary of Mother Teresa's death, and Jim Towey thought it would be the right time to publish his book whose overall theme shows how she believed the greatest need of a human being is to love and be loved. The anecdotes he shares bear witness to her profound sense of mission and shed light on how she tackled the many challenges she faced during her leadership,  including the perils of celebrity, and the health issues she dealt with in later life. Her devotion to God and service to the poorest are featured in the stories, as well as how she taught him to be more prayerful, humble, loving God and neighbor without holding back.

Royalties from the book* will be donated to the Missionaries of Charity and other charitable causes aligned with Mother Teresa’s work.

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Recognizing the efforts of charitable organizations and individuals.

The church does not tire of offering […] her work to the world, mindful that integral development is the path of good that the human family is called to follow. POPE FRANCIS, ADDRESS MARKING 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF POPULORUM PROGRESSIO

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Giving to charity makes you feel good.

Donating to charity is a major mood-booster. The knowledge that you’re helping others is hugely empowering and, in turn, can make you feel happier and more fulfilled. Research has identified a link between making a donation to charity and increased activity in the area of the brain that registers pleasure - proving that as the old adage goes, it really is far better to give than to receive.

Our own research into why people give supports this. We asked 700 of our generous donors to tell us what motivates them to give regularly to charity; 42% agreed the enjoyment they receive from giving as a key influence.  What type of giver are you? Take our short quiz

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Giving to charity strengthens personal values.

In our research, Why we give, a feeling of social conscience was the most widely-given reason to give to charity. Whatever type of charity work they supported, 96% said they felt they had a moral duty to use what they had to help others, a sentiment very much rooted in their personal values and principles.

Having the power to improve the lives of others is, to many people, a privilege, and one that comes with its own sense of obligation. Acting on these powerful feelings of responsibility is a great way to reinforce our own personal values and feel like we’re living in a way that is true to our own ethical beliefs.

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Giving is more impactful than ever.

Many people are concerned that their donations to charity may be reduced by tax or administrative costs, preventing the full amount from reaching the people or causes they really want to help. Thankfully there are ways to make the most of every donation to charity.

If you’re a UK taxpayer, you can boost the amount of every donation you make by giving through Gift Aid, an Income Tax relief created to help charities get the most out of the funds they receive. As Gift Aid enables the charity to recover the basic rate of tax on your donation, the scheme adds 25p to each £1 you give at no extra cost to you.

There are many other ways to give to charity tax-effectively too, such as by donating straight from your salary before tax is deducted through a payroll giving scheme, donating shares to charity or leaving a charitable legacy in your Will. These methods of giving ensure your chosen charities benefit as much as possible from your support.

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Giving to charity introduces your children to the importance of generosity.

Sharing the experience of donating to charity with your children shows them from a young age that they can make positive changes in the world. Children naturally love to help others, so nurturing their innate generosity is likely to mean that they grow up with a greater appreciation of what they have, and will carry on supporting charity in years to come.

Starting a tradition of donating to charity with your children is easy - try creating a family donation box that everyone can add to and nominate a family charity each year, involving the children in choosing which causes to support.

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Giving to charity encourages friends and family to do the same.

Your own charitable donations can inspire your nearest and dearest to give to causes important to them, and could even bring about a family-wide effort to back a charity or charities that have special significance to you as a group.

Family giving creates a bond, helping to bolster relationships through a shared goal and raising more money than could otherwise be possible through individual donations. Chances are, many of your family members are already giving to charity, so working together could help you to make even more of a positive impact. We can help you family to set up a family CAF Charitable Trust to make coordinating your donations simple and sustainable.

If this has inspired you to make a donation to charity, we can help. We make it easy to find a charity that’s working for causes important to you; whether you want to make a one-off donation, set up a donation plan or find out how to donate your time.

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Tribute Concert to the Homeless on the International Day of Charity.

On the UN International Day of Charity, the UN Chamber Music Society of the United Nations Staff Recreation Council (UNCMS) will perform a tribute concert to the homeless – in the spirit and call of strengthened global solidarity, focused on the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable. The United Nations recognizes that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development. Opening remarks will be delivered by Olivier Adam, the Executive Coordinator of UN Volunteers. The performance will be delivered in collaboration with Professors Carol Rodland and Professor Natasha Brofsky from the Juilliard School, together with the members of the UN Chamber Music Society, dedicated to promoting the United Nations' goals and values at large - through the universal language of music.

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perform a tribute concert to the homeless

On the UN International Day of Charity, the UN Chamber Music Society of the United Nations Staff Recreation Council (UNCMS) will perform a tribute concert to the homeless – in the spirit and call of strengthened global solidarity, focused on the need.

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Sensitizing and mobilizing people all around the world to to help others.

The International Day of Charity was established with the objective of sensitizing and mobilizing people, NGOs, and stakeholders all around the world to help others through volunteer and philanthropic activities.

Mother Teresa, the renowned nun and missionary, was born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in 1910. In 1928 she went to India, where she devoted herself to helping the destitute. In 1948 she became an Indian citizen and founded the order of Missionaries of Charity in Kolkota (Calcutta) in 1950, which became noted for its work among the poor and the dying in that city.

For over 45 years she ministered to the poor, sick, orphaned and dying, while guiding the Missionaries of Charity’s expansion, first in India and then in other countries, including hospices and homes for the poorest and homeless. Mother Teresa’s work has been recognized and acclaimed throughout the world and she has received a number of awards and distinctions, including the Nobel Peace Prize. Mother Teresa died on September 5th 1997, at 87 years of age.

In recognition of the role of charity in alleviating humanitarian crises and human suffering within and among nations, as well as of the efforts of charitable organizations and individuals, including the work of Mother Teresa, the General Assembly of the United Nations in its resolution A/RES/67/105 designated the 5th of September, the anniversary of the death of Mother Teresa, as the International Day of Charity.

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Global Solidarity to Eradicate Poverty.

Charity, like the notions of volunteerism and philanthropy, provides real social bonding and contributes to the creation of inclusive and more resilient societies. Charity can alleviate the worst effects of humanitarian crises, supplement public services in health care, education, housing and child protection. It assists the advancement of culture, science, sports, and the protection of cultural and natural heritage. It also promotes the rights of the marginalized and underprivileged and spreads the message of humanity in conflict situations.

"Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love." MOTHER TERESA.

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Enable all people to contribute to the betterment of our world.

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set forth in the Agenda can be grouped into six critical areas: people, planet, prosperity, peace, and partnership. They have the potential to transform our lives and our planet by providing the framework needed for philanthropic institutions to enable all people to contribute to the betterment of our world.

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Eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions.

In the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development adopted in September 2015, the United Nations recognizes that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development. The Agenda also calls for a spirit of strengthened global solidarity, focused in particular on the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable. It also acknowledges the role of the diverse private sector, ranging from micro-enterprises to cooperatives to multinationals, and that of civil society organizations and philanthropic organizations in the implementation of the new Agenda.

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Highlighting the importance of non-profit organizations in development.

Panel discussions to highlight the importance of non-profit organizations in development.

The two discussions are going to concentrate on the role of charity in water and sanitation and poverty alleviation, eradication issues.

Event organized by the Permanent Mission of Hungary, in cooperation with DPI, UNDP, UNOP and UNF.