Knox Porter’s Philanthropic Journey

"Pray for the victims of hunger, fear, injustice & oppression."

- -The Book of Common Prayer:  Holy Eucharist, Rite II

As a social studies instructor, I teach about leaders.  Yet, in the back of my mind, I want to lead, big time.  As an English professor, I expose pupils to great authors and teach them the writing process.  Similarly, I yearn to publish and to sit at Charlie Rose’s table discussing my book.  As a follower of current events and an active community member, I observe the actions and gifts of major philanthropists; I dream of having my own foundation.  My 46-year career as an educator has included 30 years in public schools in metro Atlanta, full-time positions in international schools in Jamaica and Turkey, seven part-time years instructing adult English as a Second Language for Georgia Piedmont Technical College, plus time teaching for an intensive English program housed at Oglethorpe University.  These experiences were immensely rewarding, yet the paychecks hardly permitted major philanthropy.  Yet, living by the proverb, “Without a vision, people perish,” I maintain my dream.

I will never legislate on Capitol Hill, nor appear in the New York Times Bestseller List, yet the Community Foundation is affording me the chance to engage in philanthropy. One dream is bearing fruit.  My fund is sustained by my belief in the power of faith and compounded interest.  As a middle-class person, dedicated to a human service profession, I now have the capacity to give from a modest income and more importantly, leave a legacy for future generations.  My gifts are small, yet my vision for their impact on the lives of others is enormous.

Those dreams guide the issues I am passionate about.   They are included in my tiny donor-advised fund, a planned gift.

Link: "A Donor's Story"

Building Strong Communities

 One remembers very little of life as a three-year-old, yet the events of one stormy night are indelibly vivid in my memory.  After a violent tornado destroyed my home, my journey involved walking through total darkness to exit the remains of my residence.  Suffering produces perseverance.  Very early in my life, I learned of the immense power of nature and of the drastic changes that can occur in one second.  On a positive note, I learned of the folly of storing up treasures in possessions.  Most importantly, I experienced the relief generated when people give mercy and support.  As one who was temporarily homeless, I realize that stronger communities are developed when comfortable housing is available. Following Hurricane Katrina, my journey included five trips to the Gulf Coast to restore housing damaged by that storm. The memory of the darkness of a tornado, and the light shed by mercy, motivated me to assist. Currently, I support Habitat for Humanity – North Central Georgia, a variation on this theme in our community.

Curing Disease

All philanthropists concerned with curing disease have a dedication that arises out of the loss of valued lives that ended too early.  Dad had a lung tumor removed, yet his final days were a mix of productivity while enduring poor health.  Mom, as a breast cancer survivor, continues to live a life of charm and helpfulness to others.  Memories of losing vibrant, interesting, faithful young friends –cancer victims- challenge me to strive to make the most of my moments, even the most ordinary ones. When the American Cancer Society began Relay for Life in Gwinnett County, participating was a no-brainer.   I was a participant during my years as a Gwinnett teacher and even served as a captain for teams which included my students.  Good health is promoted by my DAF with a vision to create changes that will enable people to lead healthier and more productive lives.  Medical research is supported to create a broad and enduring impact to combat diseases and address health care.

Combating Hunger     

In my youth, compassion for the hungry was neither on my radar screen, nor that of any of my associates.  I am thankful to have encountered peers along my journey whose examples and words pointed me in this direction.  During college, my Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship staff worker was the first person I knew who was passionate about this issue.  Another college friend kept a newspaper clipping taped to his meal ticket.  Anyone at his table who did not clean their plate was confronted with the paragraph on world hunger. Another friend worked for World Vision after graduation.  I learned more about the importance of giving support to areas of the planet where hunger was a concern.  Thus, in my twenties, I began being a supporter of this humanitarian organization, which continues to this day.  

As learning from peers, who were thinking compassionately and deeply, was instructive, so were observations made of different cultures.  International travel, especially while teaching in both Jamaica and Turkey, made me keenly aware that not all of the world’s people live lives of variety and richness.  So did teaching in metro Atlanta schools where high percentages of students were on free or reduced lunch.  Therefore I choose to combat local poverty and hunger by supporting the Atlanta Community Food Bank; and international starvation by contributing to World Vision & Overflowing Hands.

 Maximizing Learning          

I am passionate about the chance of standing in the midst of a student’s darkness and shining the lamp of knowledge.  I believe in presenting richness, as opposed to mediocrity; it is an excellent way to help pupils find and enjoy truth and excellence in life.  While at Georgia State, I prepared to do that.  Six of my courses were paid for by grants, an immense help to a twenty-something graduate student.  I have a debt to repay, thus I have established two endowed scholarships at GSU. Annually, one student, from each of the high schools where I taught, will be helped financially.  Years in the future there will be a connection between my university and the schools I labored in since learning and understanding are more profitable than gold and silver.

4:36 -Scholars' Day Speech by an Alumnus

 Through the experiences and examples of family and friends, education in both the school of life and academic institutions, plus my travels, I have learned to love the occasions when good health is promoted, communities are strengthened, learning is maximized and hunger is alleviated. Thus I choose to give a portion of my earnings, small though they may be, in order to address these issues both today and in years to come.  My DAF was established in order to seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend orphans, and feed those afflicted by famine.  My charities receive support – both locally and globally.   

Why have I chosen philanthropy?  The lens through which I view life saw a community blown away, yet rebuilt by practical acts of mercy. Seeing suffering and affliction caused by cancer made me desire to support endeavors to allow people to lead healthier lives. College friends saw hunger through their lenses.  As they exercised faith they strove to practically feed those affected by famine. The company I kept in those years influenced me to enlarge both my vision and service to combat hunger. The entirety of my adult life has been devoted to education for teachers have a posterity which will continue forever; it will not be blotted out.  Endowed scholarships will ensure that.

I am immensely thankful to the fine people of the Community Foundation for listening to me and allowing my dream of philanthropy to become a reality.  Goals, once seemingly unattainable, are now easily in view.  As in college, and my career in education, I continue to be challenged by the company I keep.  Positive interactions provided by the Foundation, both with employees and donors, allow me to see both need and solutions through different lenses.  Good people enable me to discover the joy of philanthropy as my journey continues on a new path.