The vote
sparked far more excitement than any Bixby
School student council
election ever had. Presentations were
prepared; on the playground, kids’ conversations were about winning votes. Dramatic phone conversations were the norm. How to pick between fur, skin or scales? Could they reach their fund-raising goal in
time?
In the end, after a close race
between the Humane Society and Children’s Hospital, the kids beat out the puppies
– by a nose.
This
discussion, about how elementary school kids can best help their communities,
took place at Bixby, where the 4th and 5th graders
eventually decided to award their $1,000 of collected pennies to purchase an
Art Cart for the new Children’s Hospital.
But similar conversations were happening last spring at four additional
schools (Flatirons Elementary, Friends’ School, High Peaks Elementary, and
Community Montessori), as part of year 2 of The Community Foundation’s Culture
of Giving Junior Philanthropy Elementary Program.
Over 240 new philanthropists
graduated from the program. Following a
12-week curriculum, those kids are now conversant on the importance of giving
back, how to volunteer and raise money, how to research non-profits and how to
have impact. Several additional schools have signed up to participate during
the 2007-2008 school year.
In addition to the elementary
school happenings, the Culture of Giving celebrated kids’ visions of giving by
recognizing their art work during the 5th annual Junior Philanthropy
Art Contest. Hundreds of middle and high
school students participate each year, and much of their work is displayed at
the Dairy Center for the Arts each December. Winners receive money that they may designate
for their own favorite non-profit organization.
Junior Philanthropy, produced in
partnership with Philanthropiece (www.philanthropiece.org)
, is one of several programs that are part of the Culture of Giving Movement. The
mission of the Culture of Giving Movement is to create a stronger, more
connected community by providing the resources, information and tools to build
upon Boulder County’s growing philanthropic
culture. The Community Foundation
believes that thoughtful giving is a skill, one that requires research and
learning. We hope to facilitate that process by bringing people, information,
and resources together.
