Afford Anything - PSA Thursday -- Actions Speak Louder Than Words

Episode Date: June 4, 2020

We have muted the podcast thusfar this week, in support of the #amplifymelanatedvoices movement and in support of the #theshowmustbepaused movement. We have assembled a list of resources that highlight books, websites, podcasts, nonprofit organizations and GoFundMe campaigns that I would like to direct your attention to in lieu of our normal programming. These resources can be found at https://affordanything.com/psathursday We are also matching $3,000 in donations to the Committee to Protect Journalists, the Atlanta Community Food Bank, and the Children's Development Association. Please DM me on Instagram with a screenshot of your donation and I'll match it. Instagram: paulapant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to PSA Thursday, a weekly bonus segment of the Afford Anything podcast in which we explore how to manage money, work, and life in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. This has been an exceptionally painful week. We at the Afford Anything podcast have muted the podcast thus far this week in support of the Amplify Melanated Voices Movement, the Amplify Black Voices Movement, and in support of the show must be paused movement. We have assembled a list of resources that highlight a variety of books, websites, podcast, nonprofit organizations, and GoFundMe campaigns that I would like to direct your attention to in lieu of our normal programming. These resources can be found at afford anything.com slash PSA Thursday. Now, this podcast, as I say in every episode introduction, is dedicated to two questions.

First, what are your priorities? Second, how do you align your limited resources, including your time, your money, your energy, and your attention to the things that matter most? If dismantling systemic racism and social and economic injustice is a priority to you, as it is to me, then the challenge that we as a community face is answering that tough question. We've identified the priority. Now, how can we align our money, time, and time, and money. and energy to support that priority. I have very intentionally designed to afford anything to be a nonpartisan platform. All major party affiliations are welcome here.

All the religions are welcome here. All people who have love in their heart are welcome here. Notice that I used the word nonpartisan. There is a difference between something being political, meaning it concerns policy change and it relates to the public affairs of a nation, and something being partisan, which in the U.S. means that the perspectives are split among party lines. A thing can be political without being partisan.

And I do not think that being anti-murder and anti-racism is a partisan issue. I don't see this as a partisan issue. I see this as a moral issue, as a spiritual issue, and as a human issue. I see this as a basic human rights issue. when people are getting murdered because of the color of their skin, I don't think it's a stretch to be anti-murder. I don't see that as partisan. Black lives matter.

And that is not a partisan issue, or at least it shouldn't be. You can align with any political party you want. You can have any opinion you want about the ideal capital gains tax rate or about the allocation of federal highway funding. I'm not going to take a stance on that. but I am opposed to murder. I am opposed to brutality. I am opposed to systemic racism and economic injustice.

And if that is a controversial issue or if that is viewed as a partisan stance, then I don't know what to tell you. Because I don't see this as partisan. I see this as human. This is about treating our fellow human beings with basic human decency. If you're a long time listener, you know that I'm a former newspaper reporter. And as a podcaster, I am a current member of the media, the digital podcast media, the financial media. As a member of the media, I am disturbed by seeing how many journalists have been threatened and attacked and hurt just for doing their jobs, just for reporting on the scene. So I have selected three nonprofit organizations, and I am matching up to $3,000 in donations spread among these three nonprofit organizations.

The first nonprofit that I've chosen to support is the Committee to Protect Journalists, a 501C3 nonprofit that right now is defending and protecting the journalists who are being targeted. The next two nonprofits that I've chosen to support are both based in Atlanta. My family lives in Atlanta. I myself am a former resident of Atlanta, and I invest in rental properties in Atlanta. I feel a need to support the Atlanta community. So the second nonprofit that I've decided to support is the Atlanta, community food bank, a nonprofit that serves 755,000 meals per year, that holds a four-star rating

on Charity Navigator, which is the highest possible rating, and that has an independently audited impact and cost-effectiveness assessment, which demonstrates that every $2 provides a meal to a person in need. And because the effects of systemic and economic injustice start in early childhood. I've also decided to donate to the Children's Development Academy, based in the Greater Metropolitan Atlanta area. Technically, it's in Roswell, Georgia. They operate the CDA Children's Center. This group prepares 240 economically disadvantaged preschoolers for kindergarten. The families that they serve have a median household income of $19,700 per year, which is 25% of the median income in Atlanta.

They have a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, and they hold GuideStars Platinum Seal of Transparency. I will match donations up to $3,000 spread among these three excellent nonprofits. If you are interested, send me a DM on Instagram with a screenshot of your donation. My Instagram handle is Paula P-A-U-L-A-P-A-N-T. Now, for some uplifting news, I announced this matching contribution two days ago, and a fellow personal finance blogger named Mike Piper said that he and his wife, Kalinda,

would also match donations up to $3,000 for the Committee to Protect Journalists. So, until we reach our match ceiling, if you'd like to make a contribution to the Committee to Protect Journalists, your donation will triple. It will be matched by both myself and also by Mike and Kalinda Piper.

Thank you to Mike and Kalinda for their generosity, and you can check out Mike's blog at obliviousinvestor.com. Mike is an accountant with a gift for teaching, and he is excellent at writing about investing in a simple, straightforward, easy to understand manner. So again, DMME, your screenshot on Instagram at Paula P-A-U-L-A-P-A-N-T,

and I will personally make sure that all screenshots of donations given to the Committee to Protect Journalists also goes to Mike. So, that's our PSA for today. Today's PSA makes two statements. One, Black Lives Matter. Two, take action.

Donate, volunteer. Align your limited resources, your money, time, energy, and attention to that which you prioritize. Thank you. My name is Paula Pant. This is the Afford Anything podcast, and I will catch you in the next episode.