In answer to Alex Steed's question: what influenced me - from a generational prerspective - to get involved in non-profit work.

1. In a way I feel like I’m different from others in my generation.

2. I was raised by older parents – one of whom grew up in the Great Depression.

3. We always put our change in the Salvation Army buckets.

4. In high school, apocalyptic disaster movies nurtured the seed in my mind that had been planted a decade before by Captain Planet: our planet is doomed.

5. But it’s not so scary as that. As an adult, people like Logan Whitehurst and Ze Frank showed me that you don’t have to be serious to inspire serious action.

6. So I’m often silly. But silly for a cause. It’s part of who I am…

7. My generation – and all generations – must now carefully choose their identities. Our chosen charities are part of our social status.

8. The old adage says that if you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem. I choose to be part of the solution.

9. Creative Commons flickr attributions: Enigma Photos jubbathecat B Tal