Philanthropy comes in all shapes and sizes, just like people do. Whether you leave a bit of change in a donation bucket at a cash register, volunteer an hour at a senior center reading to those with failing eyesight, buy $50 worth of chocolate bars for your kid’s band fundraiser, or leave a family legacy gift of millions, you’re participating in philanthropy. In fact, more than 60 percent of people in the U.S. have donated money in the last 12 months, with $100 being the median amount given. By the way, that’s up from 55 percent in the previous year.

The causes that we Americans donate to are as varied as we are. Religious organizations and churches were the most popular (38 percent), followed closely by helping the poor (34 percent) and supporting children, including orphans, seriously ill children and children with disabilities (23 percent). Women are more likely to give to animal welfare than men (20 percent vs. 13 percent of men), while men are more likely to give to disaster relief (14 percent vs. 9 percent of women).

The majority of Americans believe that charities have had a positive impact on their local communities, on the U.S. and internationally, whether that’s cleaning up a local park, encouraging public art or providing nutritious food to those in need. What a donor really cares about, the cause that is near and dear to them, is individual and personal.

That’s why I am surprised when I hear stories of people criticizing what or how people donate their hard-earned money or their time. Recently, billionaire Robert Smith announced during his commencement address at Morehouse College that he would pay off the student loans of every graduating senior. This gift is estimated to total $40 million. While the students roared and their parents breathed sighs of relief, others questioned not only Smith’s motives but the result of the gift. What about the taxes? What about other commencement speakers who cannot make a similar gift? What about the federal government who will lose $15 billion in interest payments over the next six years? Wouldn’t that money be better spent on overall education funding?

The naysayers turned an extremely generous positive act of philanthropy into a self-serving, negative one. And for what purpose? I really don’t understand.

Instead of bagging on Smith’s desire to pay forward his business success to the next generation of students, what if we celebrated it instead? Because isn’t it ok for everyone to choose what they care about, and donate accordingly? We at the Albuquerque Community Foundation believe it is.

So let’s start bragging about the causes we support with our time, energy and, yes, our money. We are fortunate to live in a community where individuality is valued – and that means individuality in where our philanthropic dollars go. And also how much we give and when. Albuquerque is a collection of diverse people, businesses and ideas, all working together to form a beautiful, strong and resilient tapestry. Let’s brag about that.