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Giving to invest in our lives

Calculating your R.O.S. (Return on Smile)

I recently was talking to someone who was struggling through a difficult personal time. They were lamenting that because of their own problems they felt self-obsessed; they recognized that when you are not giving it is harder to heal.

We talked a little about what I called the new math of giving. It is not the zero sum game of financials. If I give you a dollar and you in turn give it back to me, we are even. But if I give you a smile and you return it, we are both richer. Inversely, if you serve up a harsh word and I am compelled to return it we are both poorer. This month's issue is about the magic of spiritual banking that allows all of our giving to be an investment in our overall well-being. In the following pages you will meet Latinos from all around our state reaching out to help and you will be reminded of the rewards that accrue.

Anita Mabante Leach profiles two women religious at Our Lady of Guadalupe Monastery. They have cheerfully devoted their lives to their church and community by serving up a venue for Easter egg hunts, youthful Mariachi rehearsals, election voting booths and a refuge for tranquility and holiness. The West Valley neighborhood has responded in kind by providing time, materials and money to sustain and support this house of respite and spiritual oasis.

Angela Rabago-Mussi takes a look at the unmet needs of nearly 3,400 Latino foster children in search of a safe, stable home (first and foremost), but ideally of a cultural connection as well. We meet some families who are opening their homes to help these children who have already survived abuse, neglect or abandonment. After experiencing the joys of providing foster care for the first time, Pauline Saiz says she didn't think twice about going through the bottle-and-diaper stage all over again. "It has been so rewarding. If we had a bigger house I would take in more," she says.

With the temporary lull in home-buying activity over the holidays, Angela also profiles a group of Latino real estate agents who sponsor 40 families from Osborn Middle school, providing gifts, bicycles, and Christmas groceries. They are, in turn, rewarded with the warmth of tearful thanks from grateful parents who could not otherwise provide for their families and the magic of a little girl's excitement on receiving her first pink bike.

For those of you still struggling with your holiday gift list, might we suggest tickets to a wide array of holiday events that we profile in this issue. Make sure you drop the hint that you gave those extra tickets in the hopes that they include you in the outing. From Tucson to Wickenburg to Sedona; from choirs to comedy to carriage rides among light-lined streets we have some ideas on how to embrace Arizona's unique holiday charm.

For a broader contribution to our collective well-being, think about a scholarship contribution to the sons and daughters of undocumented immigrants who, through no fault of their own, are not eligible for in-state tuition or state-funded scholarships because of the recent passage of Proposition 300. Ruben Hernandez takes a look at the impact this development will have on the future educational needs of our state's youth. He talks to Rosemary Ybarra-Hernandez, the leader of AGUILA, a group that trains high school students to attend college, and raises funds for their scholarships. She says she has some high school and university students in the AGUILA program who are undocumented. Ybarra-Hernandez says her group will seek private donations to provide financial help to her AGUILA students.

This month also offers our regular features, including some last-minute musical gift ideas, an update on the newly renovated Phoenix Art Museum and Catherine Anaya's powerful essay on her recent visit to Israel that she describes as "an emotional and educational rollercoaster that touched many of us in profound ways." And our cheerful holiday scrooge, Marcos Najera, weighs in on civilized alternatives to Christmas garishness.

Happy holidays to all of our readers from all of us here at Latino Perspectives and a big thanks for all of your support and feedback during the past year. And this holiday season remember that giving can be an investment in an upward spiral to a richer life for all of us. It can start with a gift as simple as your smile.