My parents didn't have a lot of money for much of their lives, but were generous nonetheless. My father's business became successful, and when I sold my share in 1984 I had considerable wealth. I had been working as a lawyer and investing my earnings, so I already had a good deal more than I needed. Living extravagantly doesn't interest me and I have no dependents, so I wanted to give money to people and groups concerned with compassion and justice. In 1984, I joined Threshold Foundation, a community of people learning how to give effectively. I learned a great deal by serving on Threshold's grant committees and was inspired by the remarkable people I met on many visits to grantees. In 1986-87 I visited and aided people in Spain (Escuelas para la Vida) who work with marginalized people, particularly ex-drug addicts, and I have supported their work ever since, with funds and many visits to Spain. For years I gave 50% of my income to charity, both through direct gifts and gifts to donor advised community funds. I gave appreciated stock up to the 30% of income that's deductible, and gave the balance in cash. Since I want to support our greater community, I do not object to paying taxes, but I do object to the enormous spending of the Federal government on war. By my charitable gifts I feel I better support a just society. An important cause for me is the ability of gay and lesbian people to live openly and to be respected for who they are and how they contribute to society. I have given a lot to this cause, especially to organizations supporting fair treatment of gay kids. I sometimes give anonymously to non-profits since I am not eager to be known as a wealthy person, but I think it important to put my name on gifts to gay causes, as I did recently when I gave the lead gift for our community foundation's gay and lesbian fund.