Are You a Giraffe?

The Internet is a feast of wonders for info-hounds and knowledge-hogs. We can spend hours following link after link and discovering the most delightful nooks and crannies. Recently, thanks to my sister Kathleen, I discovered the Giraffe Heroes Project.

"Giraffe Heroes are people who stick their necks out for the common good." You probably know some in your own community. They are the people who see a need, don't ask for permission but just go ahead and do something about it using their own time and money. These quiet heroes act out of human empathy and a sense of what's right. That's not always a popular or easy thing to do. Not many of us would be willing to lose a career or home or even risk death to help others.

The Giraffe Heroes Project recognizes that their honorees face risks of many kinds in the course of making a difference – that's the "sticking your neck out" part. The site has a page devoted to the criteria for a "Giraffe" and invites nominations of those who work "…for the common good by alleviating suffering, rectifying injustice or advancing goals such as peace or a healthy environment." Take a few minutes to read their newsletter.

What does a Giraffe look like? Something like 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus or Doris Sassower or Mike Houck. Maybe even like you?