Gail Forsyth-Vail
Gift of the Week - February 25, 2009
Who Gave It: Gail Forsyth-Vail
Who Got It: Friends of the UUA
How it Happened: Each winter, the Friends program solicits the staff of the UUA for support. This year, Gail Forsyth-Vail quickly responded to our request and was one of the first staff members to submit a pledge form.
Gail’s philosophy of generosity, and that of her family, is compelling. Six or seven years ago, she and her family made a commitment donate a portion of their income to charity. They began with 5% and are working toward 10%, feeling that it is important that her gifts be made from her own family’s operating budget, a sacred document.
To Gail, it is a spiritual practice to give of moneys earmarked for living. And believing that giving to operating funds is a vote of confidence in the leadership of an organization, Gail donates to the operating budget of the organization as well. To her, it means not only giving responsibility to leadership, but empowering that authority as well.
In Gail’s experience, UUs aren’t comfortable talking about money. She believes that until we can speak as frankly about money as we do about other controversial subjects, we will never be able to tackle the issue of class in our work. As a the former RE of her congregation, Gail regularly used the OWL curriculum and is surprised by how much more eagerly people are willing to talk about sex than money.
This work is made possible by the generosity of individual donors. Please consider making a donation today.
Last updated on Thursday, September 8, 2011.
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