philanthropy – Surprised By Joy

“Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth.” – Muhammad Ali

I’m fascinated by the origin stories of how people start big things. I love hearing how people have done fantastic things just by following a thread that often starts in such an incidental or accidental way.

My guest on this week’s How to Share podcast, Gil Gillenwater, has a great origin story. In 1987, he and his brother, Troy, went on a Thanksgiving-inspired road trip to deliver food to a town in Mexico. They took a wrong turn and ended up in Agua Prieta, a town right on the US-Mexican border and were stunned by the living conditions and abandoned children.

Gil started a non-profit called Rancho Feliz that has served the Agua Prieta and surrounding communities in these ways:

Awarded 3,700 scholarships
Issued 6,854 graduation certificates for adults
Built 1,220 houses
Distributed 64,000 bags of food
Donated tons of medical supplies
Constructed orphanages, education centers, childcare centers, and volunteer centers

And more than that, Gil and his mission have also enriched the lives of the people who have come to volunteer. Rancho Felix has coordinated 27,462 volunteer visits. Gil documents these accomplishments and shares his experiences and insights from over 35 years of philanthropic work along the US-Mexico border in his beautiful book, Hope on the Border.

Gil tells us why me-first culture isn’t working and how enlightened self-interest provides a path out of spiritual poverty. He shares why he doesn’t like the word “charity” for either giver or receiver. Instead Gil hails the 28,000 volunteers that work with Racho Feliz as guardian warriors.

We talk about education as the ultimate tool in the border crisis and how providing that can change lives. And we talk about how the ability to see ourselves in others proves to be a life changing gift.

This is an incredible conversation with an amazing guardian warrior that shows us enthusiasm and purpose that transcends borders. I know you’ll love it.

Takeaways

When’s the last time you heard good news about the US-Mexico border?
The disparity in wealth is a significant issue that needs addressing.
Education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty.
Creating opportunities in one’s home country can reduce migration.
Enlightened self-interest can lead to personal and communal growth.
Volunteering provides a sense of purpose and fulfillment.
Community service fosters connections and shared humanity.
Experiencing poverty firsthand can change perspectives.
The joy of service is a pathway to personal happiness.

Here’s a short clip of Gil describing enlightened self-interest as an antidote to our me first, greed is good culture:

Here are some ways you can watch this compelling and inspiring episode:

The podcast player embedded below
Click this link to watch in a browser: How to Share Our Luck with Gil Gillenwater
Subscribe to How To Share on Spotify, Amazon Music, or Apple Podcasts
Subscribing to the YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@howtosharepodcast

Please listen, watch, provide feedback and subscribe.

This is the last podcast of 2025! Thank you to all you amazing listeners/watchers/readers who have been so interested in and supportive of all these amazing guests sharing their interesting stories about learning, writing, and growing in this one wild and precious life! Stay tuned for more great episodes in 2026! I appreciate you!

How to Share Our Luck with Gil Gillenwater – How To Share

In this enlightening conversation, Gil Gillenwater is with host Wynne Leon and shares his experiences and insights from over 35 years of philanthropic work along the US-Mexico border. He discusses his book, 'Hope on the Border,' which highlights the transformative power of education and community service. Gil emphasizes the importance of enlightened self-interest over traditional charity, advocating for a model that empowers individuals and fosters dignity. He explores the duality of poverty, the need for sustainable opportunities, and the joy found in serving others, ultimately presenting a vision for a more connected and compassionate world.TakeawaysEducation is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty.Enlightened self-interest can lead to personal and communal growth.Charity should not be viewed as a sacrifice but as a mutual benefit.Volunteering provides a sense of purpose and fulfillment.Welfare can disempower individuals and communities.Community service fosters connections and shared humanity.The disparity in wealth is a significant issue that needs addressing.Experiencing poverty firsthand can change perspectives.Creating opportunities in one's home country can reduce migration.The joy of service is a pathway to personal happiness.Links for this episode:How to Share homeHope on the Border at AmazonGil's organization: Rancho FelizGil Gillenwater on FacebookWynne’s book about her beloved father: Finding My Father’s Faith; Blog: https://wynneleon.com/; Substack: https://wynneleon930758.substack.com/

Links for this episode:

Hope on the Border on Amazon

Gil’s organization: Rancho Feliz

Gil Gillenwater on Facebook

My book about my beloved father: ⁠Finding My Father’s Faith⁠

(featured photo from Pexels)

(feature quote from Enlightened Mind 622 – The Rent You Pay)

“The one thing that you have that nobody else has is you. Your voice, your mind, your story, your vision. So, write and draw and build and play and dance and live only as you can.” – Neil Gaiman

The other day I was at a salon getting my hair done and I couldn’t stop reading bits of filmmaker and philanthropist Peter Samuelson’s book Finding Happy aloud to my hairdresser.

Here’s a snippet of when he made the first pitch for First Star, his organization for educating foster kids in grades 9-12 on college campuses.

I asked for a meeting with the chancellor of UCLA, Gene Block. Back then he was in charge at UCLA. I believe he still thinks I went to UCLA first because I thought it was a top-notch university, which is true. Ranked the number one public university in the United States by US News and World Report, and number eight in the whole world. But actually, I went there first because I lived down the road. I thought, “I’ll start with UCLA…. They’re probably all going to say no, so I might as well start with the closest one.”

Peter Samuelson in Finding Happy

But they did say yes. Now First Star has 10 academies in the US and 3 in the UK.

How did Peter do it? Not just for his philanthropic efforts but also to get films like Arlington Road, Wilde and Revenge of the Nerds made? And how can we borrow from his playbook to get others to join us in efforts to improve the world? I was lucky enough to have Peter Samuelson come on the How To Share podcast to talk about how to share inspiration.

In this episode, filmmaker and philanthropist Peter Samuelson discusses his new book, Finding Happy, exploring themes of inspiration, storytelling, and the importance of empathy in connecting with others. He explains why storytelling is so vital in capturing other’s hearts when pitching an idea. He shares personal anecdotes about his journey, the power of collaboration, and the significance of love and mentorship in fostering resilience among young adults, especially in the aftermath of COVID-19. The conversation emphasizes the Jewish concept of Tikkun Olam, or healing the world, and the idea of showing up to make a difference.

Takeaways

Selflessness can be selfish, as it often leads to personal fulfillment.
Success in life is rooted in storytelling and persuasion.
To pitch an idea you have to catch the audience’s hearts to create a window in which they can be moved.
Generating empathy through storytelling is essential for connection.
Humor can create openness and foster relationships.
Every young adult needs someone who loves them unconditionally.
People change when they feel cherished and valued.
Finding love often requires collaboration and shared goals.
Mentorship plays a crucial role in personal development and support.
Tikkun Olam emphasizes our responsibility to heal the world.

This is a great episode in which Peter does a fantastic job of catching our hearts to show us how to share inspiration. I know you’ll love it!

Here’s a short clip to give you a taste of the great conversation with the delightful Peter Samuelson.

Here are some ways you can listen and watch to the full episode:

The podcast player embedded below
Click this link to watch in a browser: How to Share Inspiration with Peter Samuelson
Subscribe to How To Share on Spotify, Amazon Music, or Apple Podcasts
Subscribing to the YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@howtosharepodcast

Please listen, watch, provide feedback and subscribe.

How to Share Our Luck with Gil Gillenwater – How To Share

Links for this episode:

More about Finding Happy and Peter Samuelson

Order Finding Happy on Amazon (also available at Barnes & Noble, Target and other booksellers)

First Star

Starlight Children’s Foundation

Tag: philanthropy

How To Share Our Luck

How to Share Our Luck with Gil Gillenwater – How To Share