Donating money to charity is a component of many families' religious and ethical traditions. Regardless of how parents choose to donate, whether through religious tithing, or by dropping coins into the March of Dimes jar at the grocery counter, kids take notice.
While this sets an excellent example for children to follow, the full value of donating hard-earned money can best be appreciated after a hard day's work. Organizing and operating a fundraiser for a local organization, such as a school or baseball team, can help children to understand the work that goes into charity, beyond writing a check.
Organizing care packages for the troops, bake sales to raise funds for disaster relief organizations, and hosting silent auctions for community programs are all opportunities for families to get involved in charity work together, regardless of their financial situation. Also, organizing fundraisers can help foster creative, organizational, and math skills as kids help coordinate details for a fundraising event and pull together a final donation.
