Almsgiving...

Is it true that your left hand shouldn't know what your right hand is doing? Do you donate to buy influence? What if you just want to influence other people to give? I can say I've been inspired by friends who do something good to help others, say by volunteering in a Motherless Babies' Home or something, and wouldn't get that inspiration if they didn't tell me...
I was thinking of giving money for something at school and I'd want people to know about it but I also feel it's more stylish to donate anonymously. I probably will end up not making this donation at all, I'll save the money and give moral support, really...but the questions stand...if anyone is not too shy to write back.

Update: Mad Money Challenge...Any news?

It will be interesting of participants can gist us of their returns in the Jim Cramer mad money challenge..Kindly give us your biggest winner and losers and lessons learnt. Even though I didn't participate because I already run another virtual mutual fund where I practice my stock picking skills (believe me you will be rich if you invested with me early this year-laughs), where I am up 10% plus to date, you can also check my little fund out on (You will need to paste this one at a time) . http://www.marketocracy.com/cgi-
bin/WebObjects/Portfolio.woa/ps/FundPublicPage/source=
ImAbAgLjEcGiBnCdMaKiAbDd