In the last 35 years, by working different part-time jobs and living very simply — no television or vocations, by living in a small apartment and driving an old car — Richard Semmler, 59, has donated as much as half of his annual income or more to charity. His goal is is to donate $1 million before he retires, and he estimates that he has given $770,000 so far. The money has gone to such groups as Habitat for Humanity, to evangelical Christian groups, to a homeless shelter and soup kitchen, covering 10,400 meals. Semmler comes from a modest family, the son of an electrician and secretary who couldn’t afford to send their son to college — he attended on scholarships. In a June 11, 2005 article about him in The Washington Post (Professor Finds Fulfillment In Emptying His Pockets) it said, ”Life isn’t always about multiplying what you get, he explained. Sometimes, it’s about subtraction.”
WRITE US: What do you think of how Semmler has decided to live his life. Is this something you think you could do? Is there something you could subtract from your own lifestyle to help others?

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