Giving to charity can make Christmas a happy one

PRESS RELEASE

December 15 2009

Giving to charity can make Christmas a happy one, say researchers

According to researchers, the key to happiness at Christmas is to give a gift to charity, so why not turn Christmas into a more joyous affair by buying a loved one an alternative gift from TEAR Fund’s Gift for Life catalogue?

Researchers from the University of British Columbia found that individuals, who donated to charity or gave to others, got a boost in their own happiness level. They didn’t experience this boost when they spent money on themselves. Their findings, published in Science magazine, showed that even giving as little as $5 could be enough to reap a happiness dividend.

TEAR Fund executive director Stephen Tollestrup said, “We are seeing a backlash against the consumerism of Christmas and a lot more people are looking for alternative ways to give less selfishly by choosing Gift for Life for their friends and family. It may be that people are looking for more satisfaction or happiness from their gift giving.”

Gift for Life items are practical gifts, like a goat, you buy for the poor overseas. Your loved one receives a card at Christmas telling them what you bought on their behalf.

(more)

Mr Tollestrup said, Gift for Life allowed people to give a gift with real meaning and everyone from the person who received the much-needed gift for their survival, to the person they gave the card to, felt good that they had made a difference.

“It is a great antidote to giving and receiving those unwanted gifts given out of obligation and brings us back to the true meaning of Christmas.” On a practical level it also made shopping easier as it could be done online, he said.

You can order Gift for Life at www.giftforlife.co.nz or phone 0800 800 777 for a catalogue, but you will have to be quick to receive your cards for Christmas. Alternatively, if you are a last minute shopper, you can be sent an E-Card which you can print.

ENDS

© Scoop Media