http://www.blogtalkradio.com/tomatoesinthetrenches/2010/09/15/tomatoes-in-the-trenches

To read the article and view the journal, follow the link below:

http://www.philasocialinnovations.org/site/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=200:nominate-an-innovation-champions-of-caring&catid=21:featured-social-innovations&Itemid=35

In Paul Sullivan’s recent article in the New York Times, “Teaching the Value of Work To Children Who Don’t Need To”  http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/29/your-money/29wealth.html) ,  he talks about the “Good Help” and “Bad Help” that we can give our children as we teach them the value of money and financial skills for life. While Sullivan’s article focuses specifically on affluent families and children, I believe that his message should resonate with all of us who have children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. We each need to ask ourselves the question: What lessons are we are teaching to the next generation about the importance of money and the role it plays in our lives?

How we spend our money, time, and resources reflects who we are as a person and our values. If you are what you eat, you are also what you buy. I recently saw Warren Buffet on television speaking about the legacy he is creating for his family by choosing not to leave inheritances to his children, but rather, to give them funding for charitable causes. No matter what our financial circumstances, how much or how little we have, we each have an opportunity to teach children about philanthropy and giving back in powerful ways.

You can introduce the concept of philanthropy to children at a very young age. Here are some basic tips for getting started and talking to the young people in your life about money, philanthropy, and giving back:

1. Model Philanthropy and Giving Back – Talk to children about how you are spending your own time, money, and resources
2. If you want to start giving as a family, make sure you ask your children and grandchildren about what causes are important to them. Let older children and teens do the research about charities that they want to support, and come together as a family to choose where you want to donate your money and resources.
3. Show them examples of other young people giving back, which can easily be found on the Internet, or through our Champions of Caring youth programs, www.championsofcaring.org
4. Make giving a family tradition – Practice philanthropy in place of holiday or birthday gifts
5. Get hands-on with causes so that children see the direct impact of their giving. Volunteer for the organizations where you are making your donations.

If you are interested in further information about this topic, Embrace Your Legacy provides workshops for families who want to make philanthropy and volunteerism an intergenerational affair. For more information about our Intergenerational Legacy workshops, please contact us.

In March, Barbara was recognized by Society Hill Playhouse and Respect: The Musical for her efforts to promote respect in the community. Photo: Roe DeLuca of Act II Playhouse presents Barbara with her honor. Photo by Julie Miller

 http://www.kyw1060.com/topic/play_window.php?audioType=Episode&audioId=4532029

What do I mean by living a legacy? Most often, a legacy is described as something we leave behind. It is usually used in terms of money to build or fund something, such as a building at a university, a hospital wing or a library in a person’s memory. But for me, the meaning of living your legacy—your humanity—is much broader. I believe that a legacy is a gift to the future and a gift to the present. It is the core of who you are—what you stand for, how you treat others, and what you contribute to improve the world around you. You can live a legacy by the type of person you are and the way you lead your life. I think we must each live our legacy and live it now.

Because the challenges we face in our world today seem overwhelming, we often close our eyes—and our hearts—to the suffering around us. We don’t think that we have the power to change things. This is simply not so. I know that this is true because of my own experiences, and because of the amazing changes that I have seen young people affect in their communities. In 1995, after a successful career as an entrepreneur recruiting health care executives, I founded Champions of Caring, a not-for-profit organization, dedicated to educating and empowering youth to become social activists. To date, we have worked with over 10,000 young people from the greater Philadelphia region, teaching these lessons and providing programs that reduce prejudice and violence, promote caring and compassion and develop active, engaged citizens. We teach these young people to do the good work—to address issues locally and globally— but also to flaunt their humanity and live their legacies everyday of their lives. By sharing what they are doing with others, they become inspirational role models.

The process of creating a legacy is both selfish and selfless. In doing for others, we gain much more for ourselves. Is that selfish? Maybe, but its okay when you are investing so much of yourself in something so valuable.

Read the article: Spend less, and give more
By Annette John-Hall