Although some countries think Americans are only concerned with profit and material possessions, that isn’t true. Not according to data from recent reports by Chronicle of Philanthropy, which ranks giving by state and The World Giving Index (WGI), which ranks 103 countries worldwide based on charitable contributions of money, time and willingness to help other.

America tied for first place with the Southeast Asian country of Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. Canada, Ireland and New Zealand were ranked second, third and fourth, respectively.

Surprisingly, at least to me, is that the Chronicle of Philanthropy report found the wealthiest

As you are reading this, it is probably at least Christmas Eve. For me, that means delivering gifts for Country Santa.

I’ve done it for years, sometimes with my brother or a niece or nephew, but last year I was by myself. My brother has now moved to Columbia, and my nephew and my nieces had other commitments. So rather than deliver alone, I just didn’t deliver.

“They have plenty of deliverers,” I reasoned to myself. “They’ll be just fine.”

Of course they were just fine. I, on the other hand, wasn’t. I first got involved with Country Santa for a story I was writing for another paper. It took me a while to realize it, but delivering gifts was not just to help strangers. It was to help myself. I enjoyed