The More You Give, the More You Receive

Do you remember the moment you began your journey toward philanthropy? For some, the path presents itself because of faith, good fortune, or circumstance. But for Doug Kleinsmith, giving was a natural way to extend his experiences at Volunteers of America. “[Philanthropy] wasn’t anything I was brought up on,” he admits. “The concept of volunteering and helping [people] awakened in me all at once.” 

How it all began

Doug’s relationship with Volunteers of America began 15 years ago with the annual Wrap It Up winter clothes drive. He was able to help low-income and homeless families while also illuminating the scope of Volunteers of America’s work within the community. “I really liked working with Volunteers of America. The fact is that most of the people who go through these programs do receive job training and counseling and do get jobs.”

After the success of Wrap It Up, Doug’s work and relationship with Volunteers of America flourished. Not long after, his own fortune began to grow in tandem. When it came time to consider which organizations to share his generosity with, the choice was obvious. “It helped to see [firsthand] Volunteers of America making good use of their donations. They make sure everyone gets everything they need and take a personal interest in everyone.”

Dedication to others

So what philosophy of giving has driven Doug over the last decade? The answer is so simple it might just surprise you: “I started donating a lot of money, but no matter how much I donated, I still felt I was always making more money every year,” he replies with a chuckle.

With this straightforward, shoot-from-the-hip generosity, it’s easy to see how Doug has grown into one of our organization’s most dedicated collaborators. Most recently, he has arranged to make the ultimate gift by including Volunteers of America in his will.

Doug sees this legacy gift as his means of ensuring that Volunteers of America will be able to continue the tradition of helping neighbors. “Sometimes it works that way — the more you give, the more you receive.”