The Word is Out: Chicago Attracts the Young and Educated March 24, 2007
Posted by Steve in : The City, Chicago, Breaking News , add a comment
The Chicago Trib ran an article this month looking at the changing demographics of Chicago and the surge of post-college 20Somethings who are flocking to this great city of Chicago. People are finally beginning to see what an awesome place Chicago is to live and be missional!
The article starts off, “ As thousands of Chicagoans leave the city each year, a countervailing force is moving in: twentysomethings, whose growing presence in and near the city’s center is attracting companies to start or expand operations downtown. Kenneth Johnson, a demographer and sociology professor at Loyola University Chicago who has studied the trend, estimates Chicago’s twentysomething population at 450,000, surpassed only by New York and Los Angeles, which also are experiencing influxes of new college grads. The young newcomers, Johnson said, hail from the suburbs as well as cities such as Philadelphia, Detroit and Cleveland.
“Companies are finding that the key asset is no longer the highway interchange, coal vein or port,” said Richard Florida, a professor of urban policy at George Mason University. “Now, it’s this educated, skilled, innovative talent. Companies are moving to be near the kind of people that Chicago is attracting in droves.” (more…)
Volunteering Linked to Increased Giving November 27, 2006
Posted by Steve in : Weblog , add a commentPhilanthropy Today Reports:
“Charitable donations by the wealthiest individuals in the U.S. have grown over the past five years, led by entrepreneurs and rich volunteers, a new study says. Almost two in three wealthy Americans say they increased their giving over the last five year, says the Bank of America survey, which targeted people with household incomes of at least $200,000 or net worth of at least $1 million.People who amassed their fortunes through starting their own businesses were more generous than other wealthy groups, giving an average of $232,206 a year, followed by an average of $109,745 from those who inherited their wealth, says the survey, which was researched and written by the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University.”
VOLUNTEERING INCREASES GIVING
“Volunteering time for charity seemed to indicate a higher level of financial contribution, the study says, with the amount donated increasing as volunteer hours increased. Those volunteering from one to 50 hours a year gave an average of $31,092 annually, while those volunteering more than 200 hours averaged $132,086.”
This follows the path of our generation — we are looking for ownership in areas where we feel we can make a difference. Rather than give money to a large charity, the 35-50 year old generation is getting involved and putting both money and time where their mouth is. This is the same thing we find in our church giving — those who are involved with significant time commitments are generally those who give more of thier income.
God Smiles: Candle of Faith September 1, 2006
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