Learning to Give, Curriculum Division of The LEAGUE

 

Objectives:

• To help young people see they can generate treasure to use in philanthropic actions
• To discover access to treasure through selling things that young people own

Activity Theme:

“You should never think that just because you’re a kid you can’t do something.”

~ Max Penning, 12 years old, 1999 Prudential Spirit of Community Award Honoree, sold 2000 pizzas
to raise money for a school that could not afford sporting equipment (not his school)

The facilitator reviews the flipchart from the TIME + TALENTS + TREASURE = MONEY Activity.

He/she asks the participants to review the line, “ Money is our time, talents, and things changed into dollars.” Today’s activity will demonstrate how each participant has their own time, talent, and “things” which can be changed to dollars. Participants are reminded that one important way to be a philanthropist is to give money. The activity will ask each person to think of some ways he/she can generate money.

Activity:

The facilitator hands out the GETTING TO GIVE worksheet.

WORKSHEET:

• THINGS I have that I could sell to get money to give.
• Ways I could use my TIME to make money to give.
• Special TALENTS I have that I can use to make money to give.

Before having the participants complete the worksheet, the facilitator helps the group come up with examples for each section:

“Who has an old book or CD or something else at home that you don’t use or want? Tell me a few of the things you have. Where do old books, CD’s, games sometime end up?” (in the trash) Participants give several examples such as this. “OK, we’ve got some old CD’s, books, games, an old bike and some Barbie dolls I’ve outgrown. Where could a person sell these things? (Garage sales, rummage sales, consignment stores)

What could you do as a group or individual to make money for a good cause? What have you seen others do to make money for causes? Answers may include car washes, selling candy, raking leaves, collecting cans or newspapers to sell, etc.

Does anyone here draw or do some form of art or play the piano or a musical instrument? Maybe you could use your talent to create something to sell.

Participants work on their lists. They can do this individually or in small groups with each group listing their ideas on the worksheet.

 

Processing :

The facilitator brings the individuals or groups back together. Ask for several to share what they have included. Add these to the ideas generated in the earlier discussion.

Ask the participants to talk about some of the “fundraising” they have done.

1. Did they realize that they were taking philanthropic actions when they were doing this?
2. Why did they sell the Scout cookies or raise money for the school?
3. Why did they wash cars on a Saturday for their church group?
4. Were they doing it for a special cause? To attend camp or an amusement park? To send missionaries to a Third World country?
5. Did they ask about how the dollars are used and why there was this need?

A philanthropist needs to know how the dollars they have given or raised are being spent. Are they being used for a cause that you believe in? Do you think you will continue to support these causes?
The facilitator returns to the definition of philanthropy to close the session.

DEFINITION: Philanthropy is the thoughtful, intentional, and ongoing giving of one’s time, talent, and treasure for the common good.

Getting to Give Worksheet

 

THINGS I have I could sell to get money to give:

 

 

Ways I could use my TIME to make money to give:

 

 

Special TALENTS I have that I can use to make money to give: