Have you ever thought that you a part of a magnificent fine tuned socially responsible machine?

It was a goal of our founding fathers. A creative way to leverage change…. encouraging social connectedness and assuming responsibility for the quality of life all our citizens have.

Our Democratic fathers encouraged all of us to invest in our infrastructure to promote positive and strategic solutions to drive change.

It means that when people with a common purpose unite for a common goal, more is accomplished than by a lone person trying to accomplish something. More research can be carried out, more people can be educated and more good can be attained. Knowledge feeds off of knowledge. When people have the right to, and take advantage of their right to unite - so many great things are accomplished.

Apply this to philanthropy. You have wealthy individuals with the intent to make change opt to contribute a portion of their assets into a vehicle called a foundation. They define their mission and goals with the purpose of dispersing a portion of its value annually to nonprofits that mirror their mission. It’s two entities coming together – one with funds and the other with the capability of transforming communities.

By working together instead of apart, doors to funding are more readily opened as granting institutions are impressed with organizations that are serious enough about the issues to find the best possible road to a solution that makes sense. It’s called collaboration – sounds simple but it is a big job.

“May the force be with you” - Obi-Wan Kenobi

I am a baby boomer. I admit it – and I do so with pride. Want to know why?

Let me tell you a little bit about our generation. Baby boomers have great power. Because of our numbers, unprecedented education, access to technology and financial resources, we are blessed with the gift of influence. We are versatile and creative.

We like to move in herds while maintaining our uniqueness. We ask lots and lots of questions in an effort to find the truth. We have pretty much done everything for ourselves that there is to do – and yet we know there is so much more to life.

We believe we are not accidents, and we know we are here for a purpose. We now think we matter to history and wish to be instrumental in creating a great future for our descendants.

I believe we are coming into our own, and aging beautifully. When presented with the facts and greater understanding of the world and its people, we have opted to work hard to make sure we leave this planet in better condition than we found it. As Daniel Kadlec said in USA Today last week – we are the ME generation becoming the WE generation. WE are not sitting down idly accepting a fate we know is unacceptable. We found out there is great enjoyment and satisfaction in helping others.

We want to live successfully, and success is now defined as making the world a better place. We realize that we face so many challenges and puzzles today on our planet.

Some Baby boomers are choosing to retire; only to take on a cause they deem important…one that will give greater meaning and purpose to the lives of others in their community. Whether we choose to retire or not, we are finding ways to have significance of purpose in understanding and addressing human needs and inequities.

What drives us as a group? I think it’s the Force. If you are young, you might ask what exactly is the Force? The Force is described by Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars as "an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us, penetrates us, and binds the galaxy together." Baby boomers, including me, were influenced heavily by Star Wars and the battle between good (healing, generosity, goodwill, and compassion) and evil (hostility, anger, evil, terror, hate).

Yes fellow Baby boomers - we have ideas big enough to change he world, and we realize everyday that we have the power to execute them as well with hard work. We also know that good begets good….and the Force is with us.

How do we unlock our potential? We can start by looking inside to find what each of us has to give. What do you have that you can give? Wealth , a network, intelligence, ideas, etc… if you have great idea – let me know – let someone know – lets not waste precious time. We have a lot to accomplish in a relatively short period of time – so let’s get going now! Let’s go out with as big a celebration as we came in with and leave this world a better place!