Throughout
the year I try to teach my children the importance of giving back to the
community. We strive to involve our entire family in these good works so that our
children grow up to appreciate the blessings in their lives and to acknowledge
and help those who are not so fortunate. We have done this by participating in
missions to assist our local homeless shelter and community churches. We
participate in various fundraisers and outreach programs as well.
I
recently heard about the 2nd annual Boys and Girls Club of America’s Give the
Gift of a Great Future Holiday Campaign. The Boys and Girls Club of America (BGCA)
has created various ways for anyone and everyone to give back this holiday
season and to embrace the true meaning of the season. You can log onto the website to learn more.
Have a minute to
spare?
- You can play the free Giving Game to easily donate a gift to a Club this season.
- You can vote in the KidsGive Back photo contest. The winning Club will receive a $2,500 grant from the BCGA.
The
BGCA has also created a list of tips to help parents teach their children the
value of giving back. If you are looking for ways to teach your family about
charity and giving back to their community this is a great list to check out
and will help you as you get started. Some of my favorite activities on this
list are really simple and can be done quite easily. Here are my top five; but there are more and you
can read the entire list as well as find a list of resources on the Boys and Girls Club of America's website.
- Talk about giving
- Read books about giving
- Volunteer together
- Be enthusiastic
- Make Philanthropy a family value
The
family goal for 2012 was to become more involved in the community and to give back.
We have had a wonderful and enlightening journey accomplishing this goal. My
children love to pick out and bring donations to our local homeless shelter.
They also enjoy planning and making holiday gifts for families without. I hope
that by participating in these charitable works I am giving the gift of a great
well rounded future to both my children as well as those we are helping.
My
children are three and one and already enjoy participating in charitable works
in the community. As they get older I hope we can continue to embrace this
philanthropic mentality as wholeheartedly as we do now.
Does your family
give back to the community? If so, I would love to hear all about it. We are
always looking for new ways to give back.
Disclosure: I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Boys and Girls Clubs of America. I received a promotional item as a thank-you for participating.
