Philanthropy implies being strategic about one’s giving. But, some of the greatest gifts are less well planned.

I first learned about random acts of kindness when driving from Maryland to Virginia on Route 301 some years ago. I arrived at the toll booth, and the toll collector told me that the car in front of me had paid $3 for me. I couldn’t believe it. It took me a moment to understand that I had been the beneficiary of a random act of kindness.

Since that time, I have become more aware and appreciative of acts of kindness, such as unexpected notes or emails of appreciation. My wife, Lisa, is undergoing treatments for breast cancer. It is amazing the number of people who have breast cancer and have called her with encouragement – people we barely knew. These new-found friends brought gifts and kept Lisa’s company during chemo treatments, along with neighbors and friends. Already, Lisa has started paying this kindness forward to others who are just getting started in the process.

We often can’t adequately repay people who have been kind to us, so we pay it forward to others. I often meet with people who are in transition and are thinking of moving to the nonprofit sector, or with college graduates seeking the right career for their talents and interests. Friends, mentors and relative strangers were kind to me in these circumstances years ago. Frequently we see individuals contribute to or establish scholarship programs because they attended school on scholarship and had a successful career.

While my observation of an increased level of kindness is certainly subjective, I think the recession has increased people’s awareness of the need to be helpful, and it may be part of a larger trend toward group involvement and civic engagement. Hands On Greater Richmond has seen a flood of volunteers looking to become involved, in some cases because they are unemployed and have spare time. Giving Circles are gaining in popularity. Several women recently inquired about starting a giving circle for women. They started a group on Facebook and quickly drew 100 members.

Community events such as the International Folk Festival, First Fridays and concerts at venues like Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden attract huge crowds. The Richmond Times-Dispatch Public Forum fills the room. The weekend before last, over 1,000 volunteers worked together to clean up 70 miles of the James River.

“Green shoots” has become a popular expression for signs of economic recovery. The real green shoots, however, as we work through this whopper of a recession may be more about rediscovering the joy of being kind to one another, enjoying activities together and becoming more civically engaged – things that cost little and return much.