Yesterday, I was breezing through the Wall Street Journal and stumbled across a full-page ad with sparse copy and a simple illustration lamenting the chaotic holiday shopping season and extolling the virtues of charitable giving. Incredulous, I had to read the ad twice to see whether I had missed some veiled attempt to sell something beyond charity. I imagine that many others had the same reaction since the ad seemed so odd in America's most widely-read business publication.
I whole-heartedly agree with the message, and I commend the Dalio Family Foundation for placing it in newspapers throughout America. I learned about the reasons for and scope of the unconventonal advertising campaign in an informative article about the Dalios, who didn't want to attach their names to it, in The Chicago Tribune. As the ads continue to appear, I have no doubt that they will generate conversation amongst those who see them and commentary from journalists and bloggers alike since they stand out so dramatically from the holiday season's commercialism. I hope the campaign inspires buzz which convinces people that donating to charity is an excellent way to honor the true spirit of Christmas.
