Charitable donations the perfect holiday gift.

Byline: GUEST VIEWPOINT By Gretchen Pierce For The Register-Guard

For how many years have we found ourselves so caught up in the holiday whirlwind that our best intentions of giving to important charitable causes fall by the wayside?

This year - given the immense needs of individuals, programs and nonprofit organizations in Eugene and throughout Oregon - I encourage everyone to celebrate the spirit of the holiday season by making philanthropy a priority, particularly as we prepare to enter the final month of 2004, and as we collectively look forward to the new year.

After all, I believe that generosity and human kindness bestowed from one to another, in large ways and small, truly defines the character of our community. Some ideas for getting started:

Establish a budget for giving: As a first step, take some time to determine how much of your holiday gift budget you and your family can allocate to charitable causes. Make it your goal to increase your giving this year.

Understand the significance of family involvement: It's important to share your commitment to philanthropy with others in your family, particularly young people. Discuss what issues your family is concerned about, and particularly listen to what your children have to say. Getting children to think about the critical needs in their community is an important first step in passing along philanthropic values to the next generation.

Explore various ways to give: Once you decide which needs you and your family will address and ultimately support, consider the many ways to give, such as hands-on volunteer work, charitable donations or support of a scholarship fund. An organization such as The Oregon Community Foundation can help identify places where help is needed locally while also sharing ways to give that you may not have considered - such as family funds, scholarship funds, property donation or charitable trusts.

Inspire giving by involving others: Above and beyond your own giving, the holiday season can also be an ideal time to inspire friends, neighbors and co-workers to become engaged in charitable giving. Plus, many companies offer the incentive of generous matching programs.

Remember, time is of the essence: Many nonprofit organizations and charitable causes in Eugene and throughout the state require additional support during the holiday season. Since many provide increased quantities of goods and services during the cold winter months, your help can make a big difference now more than ever.

Beyond the tips I have outlined here, additional information can be found at the Oregon Community Foundation's Web site: www.ocf1.org. The foundation offers reports and facts on family giving and philanthropy in Oregon, as well as downloadable giving guides and newsletters with helpful tips. In short, everything you need to get started.

The Oregon Community Foundation has worked for 30 years to improve life in Oregon. It promotes effective philanthropy by building a permanent endowment from the gifts of many Oregonians just like you.

Today, the foundation provides more than $30 million annually to Oregon's communities through nonprofit and educational programs. Those programs support more than 2,500 organizations around the state and award more than 1,000 scholarships annually.

As you plan to celebrate the upcoming holidays - sharing joy and kinship with family and friends - consider capturing the special meaning of the season by engaging in philanthropy. When you do your part to help meet critical community needs, you give a gift that makes an immediate difference today, while enhancing the quality of life in Oregon for years to come.

Gretchen Pierce, president and general manager of Hult & Associates, LLC, has served as a board member for the Oregon Community Foundation. She has been honored as Eugene First Citizen of the year and as Lane County Outstanding Citizen.