Tag Archives: summer service

Walking the Walk: Our Summer of Service

IMG_1953We’ve done our fair share of putting our feet up this summer. It’s time to walk the walk. I’ve been talking the talk on Philanthroparent about ways families can serve this summer, and now it’s time to put some things into action for ourselves. This will be our first attempt at creating PhilanthroTot summer service opportunities. I’m excited to share what we’ll be up to in the next few months!

When considering ways to get out and give this summer, my first criteria was something toddler friendly. My 20-month-old’s favorite summer pastime seems to be wandering. I can’t guarantee the quality of my effectiveness at any of these events. I’m going to try to be of the mind frame that simply being present is still a valid way to support a cause. (more…)

A Philanthroparent’s Game Plan for The World Cup

France Soccer Kids     You may know soccer (or perhaps you call it football) as “the world’s sport” and”the beautiful game.” Now combine these ideas: How could you make the world more beautiful through the game? There are many ways to use this sport to create a philanthropy opportunity with your family. In honor of the World Cup, here are some ideas to get the ball rolling (so to speak). May your World Cup runneth over with opportunities for good!

The Warm-ups

Philanthroparents see the value in developing character traits that go hand-in-hand with volunteerism. Lessons discovered through teamwork and sportsmanship could be worth discussing and reinforcing. These conversation starters might prompt the kind of meaningful dialogue that leads to a service idea.

  • FIFA’s slogan: “My game is fair play.”
  • 2014 World Cup motto: ” All in One Rhythm™ “
  • Pope Francis’ comments at the start of the 2014 tournament: Football as “a game and at the same time an opportunity for dialogue, understanding and reciprocal human enrichment.”

The Game Plan

The World Cup is an excellent opportunity for crowdsourcing. If you’re planning to gather together to watch a game, how could you reframe it to benefit others?

  • Your child could rally their own sports team around The World Cup. Collect sports equipment for an organization that supports underserved youth in your area.
  • Host a foosball tournament with entry fees that go towards a sports-based charity. Don’t have the means or space for a foosball table? How about a mini table top foosball tournament with these 20 inch tables?
  • For older kids or adults in your life who are willing to wager, have them predict the outcomes for the remainder of the teams/games in the tournament.  Each person in the pool can fill in their own brackets, but collect donations instead of bets.

The Lineup of Causes

Sports-minded charities address a multitude of issues: leadership and empowerment through sports, disabled athletes, equal opportunity and access to sports, to name a few. Here are a few key players related to The World Cup this year.

  • FIFA has partnered with streetfootballworld. They aim to unite and support organizations all over the world that are promoting social change through football. This organization is a great way to see the host of ways people are igniting change through the beautiful game.
  • Support a social issue within the region or host country where the tournament takes place. Or, choose a cause that is important to one of the participating athletes. Brazil player Neymar Jr. (partnering with Waves for Water and PayPal), has helped initiate a campaign that addresses the lack of access to clean water within underserved communities in Brazil.
  • Check out the #TeamUNICEF campaign reinforcing that “All children have the right to play regardless of their background/abilities/gender.” They provide two soccer balls in their recreation kit, noting that sports and play can be an effective therapy for trauma when children encounter disasters and violence.

The World Cup is underway until July 13th, but the values of teamwork and sportsmanship and how they intersect with philanthropy, along with sports-based charities, will continue on. If you have a sports fan in your family, how can you reframe these ideas to make a difference year-round?

 

 

School’s Out for Summer! Integrate Service into Your Child’s Favorite Pastimes

Summer PastimesAh, summer. That time when quintessential pastimes have a good chance of working their way into your child’s daily activities. Now might also be a good chance to work volunteerism into the hobbies, talents and interests which your kids will be exploring. The ideas below need not be the exact choices you make as a family, but may they give you inspiration. Give your child a chance to see that their passions have value beyond just their own enjoyment of them. Have fun AND enact change. It’s like having your cake (ice cream, lemonade, popsicle, watermelon… or whatever their favorite summer snack is) and eating it too!

For the Bookworm
Host a book swap: Help your voracious reader find new reading material by hosting a book swap amongst friends. Highlight their use of one of the “3 R’s” – reusing instead of buying new. They can also ask their peers to bring 3, exchange 2, and donate the extra book to an organization that distributes to others in need of quality reading materials.

For the Naturalist
Appreciate: The headlines about children being nature-deprived can be harrowing, especially when raising children in an urban community. Schedule a few “Appreciation Days” (to our beaches, deserts, rivers, forests, etc.). Make time beforehand to research the special features and animals of this region. Also discuss humans’ impact on these spaces. Knowledge (and arguably appreciation too) is power towards wanting to make a positive impact.

For the Sports Fan
Host a tournament: Put the fun in fundraising by hosting a tournament surrounding a favorite sport. Or try a new sport on for size.. foosball, ping pong, croquet? Your child will gain some summer math practice when adding up scores and funds, and the activity goes from tournament to tourna-meaningful.

For the Artist
Donate your talent: Learning a new dance routine or song? Perform it at a Veteran or Senior Center. Painting faster than there is wall space for in your home? Donate it to a community outreach center to brighten the decor. What connections can you make with the community to share your child’s creativity with those in need?

For the Techie
Tell a story: There are so many applications out there that let your child tell a story: iMovie, Prezi, PowerPoint, Kid Pix, GarageBand, Comic Life, and the list goes on. What cause, fact, inspirational organization or change maker can be brought to light (on a computer screen)?

Nowadays, even summer comes with structure. If your child’s summer weeks are already booked with activities, see if you and your child can discuss how to integrate a service or philanthropic component into their planned camp or vacation. Perhaps camp staff, summer instructors or an organization at your travel destination is available to help your child see service as a valued summer pastime too.

Philanthroparent.com is dedicated to helping parents raise socially and environmentally conscious kids. It provides resources and activities that allow families to use their talents and passions to do good both locally and globally. For support with your family’s service endeavors, to find out about organizations that go hand-in-hand with the activities mentioned above, and to learn more about the project, contact the Chief Philanthroparent, Marissa Nadjarian, at mnadjarian@me.com.