Learning to Give, Curriculum Division of The LEAGUE

Objectives:

• To recognize the need for lifelong philanthropists
• To set obtainable/adaptable goals for caring and sharing
• To provide and receive encouragement from others about having a lifelong commitment to service

Activity Theme:

“The mightiest waterfall begins with a single drop.”

~The Power of One

The facilitator explains that the group is going to examine gifts and talents and begin to develop a lifelong commitment to philanthropy. Philanthropy is the giving of one’s time, talent, and treasure for the common good. Storytelling will begin the activity.

Activity:

The facilitator reads the following story:

“A little girl came upon an old neighbor who was digging a hole. She stopped and watched the old neighbor for a while as he was digging. She eventually drew close enough to the old neighbor and asked him what he was doing. The old neighbor replied that he was digging a hole to plant a peach tree. The little girl asked, “Do you like peaches?” The old man replied, “Peaches are my favorite fruit.” The little girl replied to the old neighbor that he must have been planting the peach tree so he could eat the peaches off this tree. The old neighbor stopped and looked at the girl and explained that he would probably not live long enough to eat the peaches from this tree. He told her that all his life he had enjoyed peaches off other peach trees planted by other people. He wanted to leave peaches for others to enjoy in the future.”

The facilitator asks the participants about the story:

1. What lesson do you think the little girl learned that day?
2. Was the old neighbor using his time, talent, or treasure in the story?
3. Was he serving the common good by planting the peach tree?
4. Would you call the old neighbor a philanthropist? If so, why?

The facilitator passes out paper and pencils to the participants and instructs them to find a quiet spot in the room where they can work. The facilitator explains that the participants are going to write a Promise Pledge about their role as a volunteer hero/philanthropist.

Listed around the room are sentence starters. Participants are to read them and think how they might complete them. Each sentence starter should trigger some ideas for the contract.

Sentence Starters :

1. I have learned that being a philanthropist means…
2. It is important to be a philanthropist because…
3. I have had an opportunity to practice being a philanthropist when I…
4. I want to continue being a philanthropist because…
5. During the next month a cause/program that I would like to help is…
6. I think I can give this cause/program my time and talent by…
7. I think I can support them with giving _______ amount of money.
8. In the next year, I hope to be able to give even more of my time, talent, and treasure by…
9. In the future, I would like to continue my caring and sharing by…
   

Reflection:

The facilitator invites participants to share their Promise Pledge to the entire group. Discuss the importance of this caring and sharing to the community. The facilitator goes back to the story told at the beginning:

1. How is your Promise Pledge like the old man and the peach tree?
2. How are you building for the future?
3. In what way does what you do today affect the future?

The facilitator congratulates the group on the philanthropic commitments they have made today.

 

Application:

Each participant might want to develop a plan for fulfilling his or her Promise Pledge. The plan should include what they will do next week, next month, 3 months from now, and then 6 months from today. Each week they should review their progress and update the commitments they have made.