Growing up, I was taught that the best type of giving was when nobody knew about it. Being of service is important in any capacity, but there’s a kind of magic behind giving without the need for recognition. When we remove any sort of earthly, self-serving purpose that can motivate our desire to give, we are able to tap into a certain ethereal spirit- and giving generously only enhances the experience.

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     Philanthropy isn’t just something that’s good for you because society or your mom says so. Research shows that generosity actually improves our health and longevity. Performing generous acts triggers a host of feel-good chemicals in the brain, including dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin and a cascade of euphoric endorphins, which are all associated with creating inner peace and tranquility. Philanthropy, therefore, is something that is deeply ingrained in our nature, and our bodies encourage that expression.

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     While these facts provide some incentive, the kind of giving I want to address aims at removing ourselves completely from the focus of our generosity. When someone is in a privileged enough position to provide aid to another, it can make the recipient feel like a less-fortunate charity case. Therefore, giving anonymously levels the playing field, allowing the cause and solution to become the main focus of our efforts.

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     Technology has provided us with more opportunities to give than ever before. Contributing to our local communities is wonderful, but now everyone is our neighbor with how connected the world has become. We can have an impact on global issues rather than just hearing about them through a newspaper. Instead of simply observing the Syrian refugee crisis from afar, we can take action by donating money to UNICEF or an organization that helps match refugees with spare rooms in Germany -- and we can do so anonymously.

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     One of the people I admire most is Jeff Raikes, the CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. I had the pleasure of working under his leadership at Microsoft, and he would frequently discuss the concept of giving beyond our comfort zone -- giving until you really feel it. When we overextend ourselves in our generosity, we are brought closer to the cause or issue like never before. Take the Syrian refugee crisis for example; ask yourself would you feel differently about the issue if you donated $5.00 versus $5,000? The smaller donation puts you in the position of a passerby throwing a few coins in a cup, which is definitely better than not giving at all, but generous donation catapults you to the front lines of the action, forcing you to engage with the issue on a deeper level. The sting of being $5,000 “poorer” connects you, even if just a little, to the condition of the refugees. Their experience, in some small way, becomes closer and more relatable. Of course, the definition of a generous amount will vary from person to person, but the concept of overextending our gift still remains.

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     As members of the technology industry in a prosperous society, it’s important to remember our responsibility to help as fully as we can and to do it from our heart. In our industry, young people are able to reach higher levels of financial independence than ever before, and being in a position to provide aid generously is one of the privileges that comes with being successful. The gift of giving silently is one that has to be experienced to be understood, and giving beyond our comfort zones connects us to the fabric of humanity more than technology ever could.

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“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make." - JANE GOODALL