Learning to Give, Curriculum Division of The LEAGUE

Age:

• 12-18

Philanthropy is:

• Giving, serving and private citizen action intended for the common good.

Purpose:

• Participants will recognize philanthropy as a life-long action and reflect on their philanthropic dreams and goals, focusing on what they can give and the difference it can make.

Objectives:

The young person will:

• look at what they can do to be a philanthropic citizen throughout their lifetime.
• realize that each person has special time, talent and treasure to give during their lifetime.

Activity Theme:

“I came from a troubled background, I dropped out of school and had problems with alcohol and the law. Today I am an actor and a proud Native American helping others in this country to learn of our plight.”

~Rodney Grant, Native American, Actor, featured in the Academy Award winning motion picture, Dances With Wolves

This activity should be used when a group has completed exercises that give them a thorough understanding of what it means to be a philanthropist. This activity is used as a culminating activity for a study of philanthropy. It is a very personal activity and does not require a lot of discussion or sharing.

Activity Steps:

• The facilitator reads the attached poem (scroll to bottom of page), “Your Life, Your Legacy."
• The facilitator asks the participants what this poem means. Ask if the participants have seen movies, read books, talked to people or listened to friends and relatives talk about the good things people have done during their lifetimes: how these people helped others and in a small or large way, making the world a better place for one person, a few or all of us? Have the participants share their responses with the whole group.
• The facilitator explains that young people are fortunate to be able to arrange their life so that they control how they spend their time. They do not have to regret what they did not do, as many adults do. They have the opportunity to plan how they will give of their time, talent and treasure, during their lifetime, to the local and global community.
• The facilitator distributes the handouts and asks the participants to find a quiet space and begin to think about what they might do to begin or continue their philanthropic actions. The participants are to put their name on the handout and begin to write down those things that they would like to accomplish NOW and in the FUTURE.
• The facilitator brings the group together and asks for volunteers to share from their “Your Life, Your Legacy ” handout. Do not require anyone to share.
• Distribute the stamped envelopes and instruct the participants to place their “Your Life, Your Legacy” in the envelope and seal it, then self address the envelope. The facilitator will collect the envelopes and tell them that the envelopes will be put in the mail at a time most appropriate for the group (after several weeks, the end of the meeting year, the end of the school year).
  

Processing Questions:

1. What are some strategies you will use to begin to do what you have determined to do?
2. Will you need to gain any special knowledge and or skills to do this? What are they?
3. How will you hold onto this philanthropic vision through the unknown, and perhaps unexpected, circumstances of life?
4. With whom will you share your vision?
5. How might someone be changed because of this thought process and what impact might it have on their future?
   

Closure Quote:

The Habits of the Heart Youth Advisory Council developed this Mission:

“We believe that everyone, including youth, can make a difference in any community by unselfishly giving of their time, talent, treasure and love, expecting nothing in return. As ambassadors of Habits of the Heart (facilitators might want to use the name of the organization, school, or church), we will lead by example and help others to see how they can make a difference through service and commitment to a better community.”

Activity Source:

Your Life, Your Legacy by Marra Carson

Additional Resources:

Personal Philanthropic Timeline
Learning to Give Lesson (Grades 3-5) “My Promise”
Unit “We the Community – Past, Present, and Future”

Nonprofit Careers
Learning to Give Lesson (Grades 9-12) “Identifying Career Interests in the Government and Volunteer Sectors”
Unit “We the People Project”
Lesson Three: “Identifying Career Interests in the Government and Volunteer Sectors” http://www.learningtogive.org/lessons/unit128/lesson3.html

What Do You Believe in?
Learning to Give Lesson (Grades 9-12) “Developing a Sense of Self”
Unit “Your Place in the Community”
Lesson Two: “Developing a Sense of Self”

Bio-Poem
Learning to Give Lesson (Grades 9-12) “Bio-Poem”
Unit “Defining Philanthropy”

 

 

Attachment One

 

Your Life, Your Legacy

A poem by Marra Carson

 

You have the power to create
its not too early, it’s never too late
Of your life, make a legacy
Be the change you wish to see

Take a look and find all the possibility
you have to change your community
Make a difference in this place
Take on a challenge, set the pace

Who knows where you will go from here?
Use that smile, fill the world with cheer
Build a house, give a gift
All around you, spirits lift

You have so much to give
An amazing life to live
What is your dream? Make it real.
Let everyone know what you believe, think, and feel.

A legacy of what you’ve done
Lives and grows even when you’re gone
Time, talent and treasure – give to invest
in the future you’re building.
Make it the best

 

 

Attachment Two

 

Make Your Life Philanthropic!

 

NAME: ____________________________________________

Year you were born: ______ - ?

What I will do to create a life-time of sharing, caring and giving: in my family, school, community, job, social, and political life?

 

 

Ways in which I can share time, talent and treasure:

NOW:

 

 

 

AND in the FUTURE:

 

 

Philanthropy Theme Framework :

Strand Standard Benchmark PHIL II. Philanthropy and Civil Society PCS01. Self, citizenship, and society MS 4. Describe the characteristics of someone who helps the community. PHIL II. Philanthropy and Civil Society PCS01. Self, citizenship, and society HS 4. Describe and give examples of characteristics of good citizens in a democracy. PHIL III. Philanthropy and the Individual PI 01. Reasons for Individual Philanthropy MS 5. Describe the responsibility American students have to act in the voluntary sector to improve the common good.