Keep the holiday spirit all year long

During the holidays, our thoughts naturally turn to giving – not just giving gifts but donating our time and money to charities and community programs. 



This time of year, we’re reminded that, with all our frailties, we human beings are a pretty generous lot. According to the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, 88 percent of American households donate to charity. In 2012, Americans donated more than $316 billion to nonprofit organizations. 



As it turns out, philanthropy is as old as civilization itself. 



One of the earliest recorded donations...