Philanthropic Kids

Next week generationOn, the kid division of the Points of Light Institute, is implementing 'Make Your Mark Week,' (Oct. 16-22) a movement aimed at inspiring kids to volunteer and make an impact in their communities. They hope to inspire young people to focus on issues that matter most to them and to show them that small acts and service projects can add up to make a big difference. Kids and parents can visit their website to get great service ideas for a variety of issues.

We live with an ever-increasing number of distractions and pressures. Our kids juggle school, after-school activities and enrichment, all of which in many cases, are geared toward getting them into a good college so they can ultimately be productive members of society.

It can be hard to encourage them to participate in yet another activity, even if it is philanthropic. Yet, the benefits of youth philanthropy far outweigh the cost for our kids. 

Studies show kids who engage in philanthropic behavior are less likely to feel marginalized or overlooked than those kids who choose not to.  Philanthropic activity leads to a sense of ownership and pride in community. Research also suggests that kids who partake in philanthropic pursuits are better behaved, more responsible and perform better in school. 

A community benefits from its youth volunteers as well. When kids serve in their community - whether it's visiting a nursing home or running a food drive - it helps society to view kids not as shiftless or lazy but as valuable assests and engaged members.

Philathropic acts don't have to mean food drives or cash donations, as Dr. William Richardson, president of the Kellog Foundation points out: "We may appreciate our volunteer soccer coaches and scout leaders and firefighters and blood donors. And we may notice, on snowy weekends, that someone has thoughtfully scattered rock salt on the steps of our house of worship. We don't always stop to think, though, how these things get done, or how much poorer our lives would be if they didn't."

Kids can help in many small ways; shovelling an elderly neighbor's walk in the winter for example.

The larger purpose for encouraging children to pursue philanthropy is it allows them to develop a vested interest in the well-being of others. It encourages them to examine the circumstances that divide society and work toward the changes necessary to make it whole. 

In the words of Margaret Mead, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."