Doing good is not an obligation, but a gesture for the future.

Faced with so many social challenges and the need for the business community to awaken to investing in philanthropic causes, I was encouraged and hopeful after recently speaking with the couple Mariel Reyes and David Vélez at the 3rd edition of the "Diálogos do Movimento Bem Maior" event. The first point I reflected on was that, after seven years of joining "The Giving Pledge" alongside my wife, Suzy Horn, I have the opportunity to welcome and enthusiastically see the arrival of another Latin American couple in this great pact.

Listening to David and Mariel talk about generosity filled me with joy because they are two young people excited to build a better world. Seeing them mention that other entrepreneurs have shown interest in investing in social causes increased my confidence that the wave of good will intensify and a new generation of philanthropists is emerging.

I have been working to help transform the social reality of Brazil through philanthropy—I have long been committed to doing good. It is an honorable challenge and, with great conviction, I see it as the great project that God has sent me—which gives me even more energy to dedicate myself and do it with all my strength.

Unfortunately, we are facing one of the most sensitive moments in the world. What we see today is enormous inequality, and we know that the health and financial crises caused by Covid-19 have hit the poorest hardest. Our country expects and needs the business community to mobilize. One piece of data that caught my attention came from the "Brazil Giving Report" survey, published in February of this year. The study showed that 73% of respondents felt that companies should have done more to support communities during that period.

One of my main life goals is to inspire others to have a culture of giving. The list of members of "The Giving Pledge" has only four participants in Latin America: David, Mariel, Suzy, and myself. A low number, which still reflects the difficulty in obtaining a commitment from the wealthiest to donate. At the same time, it encourages us that, if today we already see younger entrepreneurs dedicating themselves to social causes, it is a sign that there is hope for future generations!

It's important to emphasize that this situation doesn't reflect the work done by businesspeople and philanthropists over decades. I cite the example of Amador Aguiar, founder of Bradesco, who so greatly supported education and left an enormous legacy of generosity. Just as Amador was one of my greatest inspirations, I hope more people become aware and spread the seeds to make a culture of giving a habit.

When we adopt an empathetic perspective, our hearts are touched. Imagining the suffering of others affects us deeply. For those who want to start donating, I suggest walking the streets of your own neighborhood, looking at people in need, and thinking about how to help. There are social organizations, solidarity movements, and associations that do essential work and need support.

The more we talk about a culture of giving, the more names join this solidarity effort, the more inspiration arises, the greater our power will be to change the reality of the country. Businesspeople who possess great wealth have enormous opportunities to generate social impact. Life is a stage for us to do good. We cannot shirk this mission. May a more social, less material future come! May a generation with more purpose and willingness to make a difference emerge!

This article was originally published on the Folha de S.Paulo newspaper website.

Image Credit: Press Release/MBM