Frederic J. Fransen: Celebrating America’s better angels on National Philanthropy Day
In his inaugural address on Jan. 20, 1961, President John F. Kennedy called on his fellow Americans to “ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.”
Kennedy’s words embraced America’s better angels: the philanthropic spirit we celebrate Nov. 15, National Philanthropy Day. They were a far cry from what we heard in the recent presidential campaign in which both candidates sought support by offering voters “free” giveaways.
The word philanthropist literally means “lover of humanity.”
