Cinderella After Midnight!!!

Oddly enough, the Cinderella story has been around as long as Halloween has been celebrated...and long before it went by that name...

Yes, Halloween is normally associated with children. But adults have been known to enjoy chocolate, too. (The most recent statistics estimate that Americans alone spend roughly $2.6 Billion dollars on Halloween candy),Plus, grown-ups are not averse to wearing a costume and pretending to be someone else, at least for a night. Just like Cinderella at the ball, the idea that you can look and feel like somebody else, even for just a few hours, is pretty magical.

Oddly enough, the Cinderella story has been around as long as Halloween has been celebrated (and long before it went by that name). October 31st certainly didn’t start out as a Party night. Originating with the pre-Christian Celts as Samhain, the night was originally one to acknowledge and appease recently departed souls, by laying out banquet tables of food. Over centuries, the festivities evolved into people dressing up as ghosts or demons themselves, and enjoying the food and drink that used to be left on the banquet table. ‘Souling’ introduced the door-to-door ritual, where well-to-do homeowners would provide pastries known as ‘soul cakes’ to the costumed celebrants who knocked on their door. (And much like Cinderella, the All Souls’ Day cakes may have been the only time during the year when the lower classes would interact with their so-called betters.)

Spoiler alert: the fable of Cinderella goes back just as far as Halloween, and through just as many names as Halloween. Skip right past the Walt Disney version…and the Grimms’ Fairy Tales take as well. There was the French author from the late 1600s…oh, and the Italian writer with basically the same tale sixty years later. But, it turns out that Cinderella had been losing her slipper for centuries by then.

Rewind all the way back to first century B.C. Greece. In this case, Cinderella is named Rhodopis. And her slipper doesn’t fall off at a midnight ball, but is snatched by an eagle while she is bathing. The eagle drops it into the king’s lap in Memphis. The king dispatches his armies to locate the woman behind such a magic occurrence. Through different variations, and different names, the story appears, in Asia as well as Europe.

But why did the story of the peasant girl with the evil sisters and the magic prince persist for TWO Millenia? Quite possibly, because through most of that time, the idea of improving your life could only happen IN a fable. For all the stresses of the 21st century, we are historically fortunate to live in a society where we’re not simply relying on a magical prince or miracle to permit us to live a better life. People can dream, and hope…and not feel automatically sentenced to live at the same status as the last six generations of their family.

With heightened expectations, though, come possible disappointments. Misfortunes and unexpected circumstances can strike anyone, at any time. We all have the capability to remind people suffering adversity that it isn’t a lifetime sentence, and that with assistance, they can truly transform back to where they want to be…and even higher. All without a magic prince, or a slipper falling from the sky.

Compassion can do the magic...and it has. Let Link Charity help you make that magic happen, in whatever form or direction means the most to you. Contact us today. (And treat yourself to your own kind of ‘soul cake’.)

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Unveiling the Benefits of Being a Link Charity Canada Member

By Rob Ennema • 03 May, 2024

If you're considering becoming a part of Link Charity Canada , you're in for an array of exclusive advantages that can elevate your philanthropic journey. Let's delve into the wealth of benefits awaiting you as a distinguished member: 1. Expert Guidance and Support Access dedicated expert advice on planned giving and estate planning for you, your donors, and your staff. Benefit from low to no-cost marketing tools to effortlessly promote planned giving within your organization. 2. Empowerment Through Participation Secure a voice in decisions and plans for Link Charity through a representative vote at the Annual General Meeting (AGM), with potential Board membership opportunities. 3. Financial Returns Enjoy higher than average returns on investments for your donors, ensuring a rewarding giving experience. 4. Reimbursement Plan Explore the referral reimbursement plan that could potentially cover your entire annual dues, making your membership even more financially appealing. 5. Comprehensive Services Benefit from a spectrum of services including quality marketing resources to simplify gift planning promotion. Attend enlightening seminars and workshops for donors focusing on gift planning and estate needs. Engage in face-to-face meetings offering personalized and confidential answers to gift planning concerns. Train select staff and volunteers in essential areas of gift planning, enhancing organizational expertise. Experience expanded networking opportunities through coordinated events and promotions of gift planning initiatives. 6. Innovative Donation Solutions Easily donate stocks and mutual funds through Link Charity, saving significantly on brokerage fees. Opt for Gift Annuities to support multiple charities under one annuity, streamlining your giving process. Leverage Link Charity's estate planning expertise to potentially save on fees and taxes. 7. Tailored Giving Enjoy the freedom to be anonymous and selective in your causes under Link Charity's guidance. Establish a Family Foundation through the Donor Advised Funds program without the complexities of creating your own. Save substantial amounts on taxes by strategizing your estate gift plan with Link Charity's consultants. 8. Confidentiality Assurance Rest assured that all interactions and work done with Link Charity are handled with the utmost confidentiality, prioritizing your privacy and trust. By embarking on this membership journey with Link Charity Canada, you not only gain access to a treasure trove of benefits but also contribute meaningfully to impactful charitable endeavors. Join hands with Link Charity today and unlock a world of giving possibilities! For more information and to explore membership opportunities, contact us today!

Food For Thought

By Erin M • 20 Jun, 2023

Since 1998, Link Charity Canada has provided the service, tools, education, and guidance that individuals and charities need when it comes to gift giving. We work with many great charities that are in the business of not only helping Canadians, but people all over the world. Check out Link Charity’s members list to learn more.