‘A Passion For Giving’ Highlights the Generosity of Spirit

When we consider the notion of generosity and philanthropy, our thoughts most immediately turn to individuals with deep pockets who have the instinct, intention and means to help others. And while money can certainly make a world of difference to those in need, the idea of generosity is one that is not necessarily limited to those with great financial resources, as filmmaker and Sag Harbor resident Robin Leacock found out during the production of her documentary, “A Passion For Giving.”

On Friday, September 23, Bay Street Theater and Leacock will offer a special anniversary screening of “A Passion For Giving,” followed by a panel discussion with animal activist and actress Missy Hargraves, author and philanthropist Jean Shafiroff, and philanthropist and Founder of ACE (Association of Community Employment Programs for the Homeless) New York, Henry Buhl.

“I made the film in 2009 and it ran on PBS in 2011,” said Leacock of “A Passion For Giving,” which followed her documentary “It Girls” about female creativity in the fashion world.

“After ‘It Girls,’ I wanted to do something that really had much more meaning and make a documentary about philanthropy — not just about wealthy philanthropists, but the act of giving, gestures of kindness and what it meant,” she said.

To make the film, Leacock took to the streets of Manhattan and other cities, where she conducted interviews with a wide range of subjects who crossed her path — from actor Dan Ackroyd, restaurant critic Gael Greene and writer Fran Lebowitz, to various well-known philanthropists, and even a group of Tibetan monks and a homeless person who Leacock feels was perhaps the most eloquent person featured in the movie.

“I wanted to have a thought-provoking film about being kind,” said Leacock, the wife of filmmaker Robert Leacock and daughter-in-law of the late Richard Leacock, a legendary cinema vérité documentarian and the filmmaking partner of D.A. Pennebaker. She notes that though “A Passion For Giving” was screened widely on PBS when it first premiered, she was overwhelmed by the reception and emails she received after the fact from people affiliated with churches and schools around the country, and even in places as far off as China and Russia, who wanted to show the film.

“My late father-in-law said, ‘You spend years making a film that’s shown once on TV and that’s it,’” said Leacock. “I thought, this film doesn’t have to sit on the shelf. I think it has a life to it. It has meaning and needs to be seen more, so I decided to screen it in Palm Beach and now I’m screening it here. I think it really holds up and it does inspire people with the gesture of giving and kindness.”

When asked to reflect on how she feels the world in general — and compassion in particular — have changed since the documentary first came out, Leacock said, “When I was making the film, I was very oriented toward compassion, kindness and giving. Even though there are still a lot of charities now, what has changed is the internet, which is exponentially more pervasive.

“I think at that point in time, or earlier, you could read a book or watch a movie and really absorb feelings and concepts and the idea of compassion,” she added. “But now, everything is done in a flash — you can scroll Instagram and Facebook, TikTok, whatever else you’re doing. I think everything is a sensation for a moment, so you can see flooding here, people dying there or hunger and famine, all kinds of issues. But then you scroll to the next thing, and then the next. The idea of having empathy is not as long lasting as it was before in terms of attention span, you just scroll.”

“You’re not as open to as many things as you were before, because now it’s your choice to be drawn in or not.”

While there are many celebrities featured in her film, Leacock’s goal was not just to highlight the work of well-known individuals doing good deeds or philanthropists who are deeply involved in specific causes, but also to shine a light on those who don’t often get their voices heard in films, including the undomiciled man she featured in “A Passion For Giving.”

“You almost never hear homeless people speak. We’re all human and we tend to have a lot of judgment. But I felt it was really important to have people on the street in the film and have their voices amplified,” she said. “I came upon this man at the time and he had a lot to say and it was very moving.”

The film also focuses on philanthropists who have been active in causes both in New York City and on the East End, including the three who will take part in the panel discussion after the film —Missy Hargraves, Jean Shafiroff and Henry Buhl.

“With this film, I tried to go in depth by asking questions that will provide meaningful, deep answers,” said Leacock. “I really tried to get people to go into why they care and why kindness is important. I included a lot of Tibetan monks in the movie and they had very wise things to say.

“I’m hoping we have a good turnout at the screening,” she added, “And, hopefully, people are inspired by the film.”

“A Passion For Giving” will be screened at Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor on Friday, September 23, at 7 p.m., followed by a panel discussion with actress and animal activist Missy Hargraves, author and philanthropist Jean Shafiroff and philanthropist and founder of ACE New York, Henry Buhl. Tickets start at $20 at baystreet.org or 631-725-9500. Bay Street Theater is on Long Wharf in Sag Harbor.