Spend On The Poor To Gain Attention - Onye Henry

A recent comment on Facebook suggested that spending birthday money on feeding the poor would attract more attention than spending it on cake. While this might seem like a push for social responsibility, it has problematic implications.

Turning charity into a tool for gaining attention reduces its value and shifts focus from helping others to seeking personal validation. This can lead to virtue signaling, where the act of giving is motivated more by the desire for recognition than by genuine compassion.

Moreover, using charity for social gain risks overshadowing the real needs of those in need. Authentic generosity should come from a true desire to help, not from seeking approval. True philanthropy is about making a meaningful impact, not about enhancing one’s image.