Learning to Give, Curriculum Division of The LEAGUE

Objectives:

• To have participants realize that all persons can be philanthropists at home, in school, and in the community
• To determine from all the good deeds recorded in the journals which ones held special interest for each individual participant
  

Activity Theme:

“This country will not be a good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a good place for all of us to live in.”

~ Theodore Roosevelt

This session introduces the concept that the participants of any age can be philanthropists. The journal helped them to understand that all people, from many different walks of life, have been doing good deeds every day. This activity will introduce the definition of philanthropy.

Philanthropy: caring and sharing by taking action for the common good.

Participants will review their journals and indicate on each notation if the person gave Time, used their Talent, or gave Treasure (money) to their cause. The Philanthropic Watch handout has the participants deciding which of the causes they read about interested them personally.

Activity:

The facilitator asks participants to open their Philanthropic Watch journals. He/she explains that today they are going to review the stories they put in their journals and decide which of three philanthropic acts people performed they might like to do.

1. If they gave their time, put a "T" or a clock face.
2. If they used their talent, put a "TA" or a happy face.
3. If they used their treasure (money), put a "D" or or a dollar sign, $.

Remind them that many of the people they read or wrote about might do all three. If they have questions about which of the symbols to use, have them talk it over with the person sitting on either side. The facilitator gives the participants about 10 minutes to complete this part of the activity.

After they have put the symbols in the journal, the facilitator reminds them of the definition of “Philanthropy” which is written on newsprint. It should be pointed out to them that the words time, talent, and treasure are a part of the definition.

Next, the participants are to go through the journal again with a different set of eyes. These eyes are looking for the actions that have great interest to them. In other words, are there stories that made you think, “Hey, I’d like to get involved in that community project and help out just like this person did.” As the participant finds these, have them mark the pages for reference. When everyone has marked two or three stories proceed to the next part of the activity.

Processing Questions:

1. What was it like for you to do the philanthropic watch?
2. What did you see most often?
3. Describe what the people were like that you saw.

Philanthrophic Watch Handout

The facilitator gives each person a copy of the handout. He/she explains that they should find a quiet place to complete the handout. The facilitator tells the group that they are to review the marked pages in the journal. Using this information, the participant should complete the handout. This is for their personal use.

Give the participants about 15 minutes to complete the handout. Bring them back to large group and ask for volunteers to share their handout. After a few have shared, process the activity.

Processing:

Encourage the participants to become involved in a spirited discussion about what they have learned.

1. What did you learn about yourself and others by doing this activity?
2. What is the easiest for you to share: your time? your talent? your treasure?
3. What is one thing you might do in the next week to become a philanthropist in action?

Application:

The participants might want to ask the family to select a story and fill out a Philanthropic Watch handout. If the participant and a family member selected the same story, they might want to research that need in the local community. They might want to volunteer together to help the organization or cause.