John and Kristin Goodwin are no strangers to the topic of generosity. A quick Google search would reveal quite a resume for how they have given back and served the Kansas City community over the years. However, “what” they have done is not what makes the Goodwin family special. It is their “why.” The joyful spirit and the humility they display when sharing about giving back is exponentially more motivating and contagious than a holiday spirit felt once a year.
For the Goodwins, it all begins with a solid foundation. They approach each day with the understanding that life is not their own, and the blessings they have been given are meant to be shared.
“We have a core belief that there is a God, and he wants us to serve and love others. We don't always live that way, like all human beings, but we try to every day. I would say that's true for every member of our family,” Kristin said.
“It's His kingdom and not our kingdom that we're living in,” John echoed. “If you realize what money and time can do to transform one life…that is worth impacting one life and hopefully, more than one life. That's very encouraging to us.”
As Mission Hills residents, they are encouraged daily by the selflessness of their neighbors and how they care for one another. This care even extends to a neighborhood regular, David Vogt, who has served the people of Mission Hills for 30 years in the trash service industry.
“We're very close to him,” John said. “I'll give him a Diet Coke, talk to him about his grandson, and he asks me about my aging parents.”
“Everybody stops David. He is one of the things that's quintessentially Mission Hills, a person who builds community,” Kristin added. “It is a community where people stop and talk to one another, passing on the street or at the grocery store. Its residents are actively engaged and interested in others.”
John and Kristin learned long ago that self-centeredness is not the path to lasting joy. Keeping open eyes and ears to others is an intentional part of their lives, especially as they look for ways to love and serve Kansas City as a whole. Learning from people with different backgrounds and watching those who give their time and talents so tirelessly motivates them to continue serving, even when it’s hard.
“You're either serving somebody else or you're serving yourself. It's much more rewarding to serve somebody else,” Kristin said. “As we get older, our world can tend to get much smaller. We see people who are convenient for us to see. We're not as mobile. We're not in school with the kids anymore. Being involved in the community really keeps your world broad, keeps you learning.”
Engaging the community is a priority the Goodwins instilled in all three of their children as well. They were quick to teach and demonstrate that giving back was something anyone could do and did not always mean financial giving. Dedicated to the work of the Salvation Army, they would pack up the family and take them to ring Christmas bells around the city each year. They would also prepare meals at Grace United Community Ministries.
Now, as their kids live and serve in their own communities, the Goodwins are thankful for the legacy of generosity that started when they were kids and has continued to grow as they invest in the next generation.
“My parents were giving in every aspect of the word,” Kristin said. “They gave financially, and they gave of their time. They gave when nothing was expected or recognized. We just grew up understanding that everything we had been given was truly a gift; it wasn't something that we merited or were entitled to.”
John recognizes the power of Christmas to inspire giving in the hearts of people. Throughout the last seven years, the Goodwins have been saddened, like many people, to see a nationwide decline in nonprofit giving. According to the IU School of Philanthropy, charitable giving has dropped by $20 billion since the standard tax deduction was doubled. As they challenge themselves, they want others to consider how much more joy comes from giving now, rather than waiting.
“It's giving during your life that is, I think, a lot more rewarding than giving after you die. That is one of the things that we like to do and want to inspire others to think similarly,” John said. “Many non-profits we are aware of are running budget deficits today, and the government cutbacks in food assistance are a serious threat to our community. I have visited and lived in many cities and have concluded that there is no more generous community than we have in Kansas City. But there is more that we, and this entire country, can do.”
“Life is so short…you're not remembered for any of the things that are bright and shiny and catch your eye when you're living. It is through love, service and commitment that your memory lives on,” Kristin said.
Whether it is serving on a community board, accepting the United Way of Greater Kansas City’s Adele Hall Spirit of Caring award, or cultivating relationships with locals like David Vogt, the Goodwins try to maintain the same posture through it all by their efforts in identifying areas of need and serving others in the community.
Pulled quote: "Life is so short. You're not remembered for any of the things that are bright and shiny and catch your eye when you're living. It is through love, service and commitment that your memory lives on."