Looking back at the very first Philanthropy class, I am proud to say we have all come incredibly far.  When I first heard about the things we were going to be doing and the money that we would have to raise, I didn’t think we would be able to do it.  At first, I thought this was completely impossible for a bunch of students to accomplish.  It was only after visiting the charities when I finally realized…we did it.  We actually made a difference.

Our first stop on our journey was my groups charity, the Quantum House.  Words can’t explain how amazing it felt to be standing next to my group while holding this big check.  Everyone was so welcoming and from the moment you walk through the doors, you feel like you are at home.  This was one of my favorite parts about the Quantum House-  they try their best to make you feel comfortable.  Even though some of these children may have been sick, they never made them feel that way.  The house never gave them a “hospital” feel, which is great.  There were bedrooms, playrooms, boardgames, etc. I think it is so important for the patients to feel normal.  They aren’t different from anyone else, and they shouldn’t have to feel like outsiders.  It was difficult to see or hear stories without crying, but Quantum House gives people a reason to hold on and keep going- even when they feel as if all hope is lost.  We raised $1,017.16. I couldn’t have done this without my groups help and the guidance from our fellow Philanthropists.  Thank you so much for everything.  This was an experience that I will never forget.

The second stop was the operation troop support.  This area had a completely different feel to it.  While driving around the area, we could immediately tell that these houses were not homes.  I thought it was amazing how there were so many workers that were helping build these new homes.  When we arrived, they gave us a quick tour and told us about what it used to be like before they began working on it.  Although they are still in the process of making it feel more like a home for the veterans, I think they have come so far in the work they have already done.  I truly think it was amazing that George and his group chose this organization.  It is something that shouldn’t go unnoticed.

The third stop was Scripps.  The campus was beyond beautiful and the workers were extremely friendly towards us.  Since we were running on a tight schedule, we received a quick tour and heard more about the different laboratories/lab equipment.  The group presented them with their check and began to take pictures.  It was so great to see how happy they were.

The fourth place we visited was the Palm Beach Country food bank.  This was one of my favorite visits.  I really enjoyed this visit because the workers were extremely kind and they played us a video regarding the countless amount of children who go to bed hungry every night.  It was definitely an eye-opening video that I will never forget.  I think we all tend to forget how essential food, water, and all of our everyday “basic” foods are.  They showed us where they keep the food and how they send it out to families in need.  This is something that I would definitely want to do over the summer or whenever I have spare time.  After leaving the food bank, I realized how happy it must make these families when they see that people truly do care.  It really taught me to cherish the little things in life because it can happen to any of us, which is why it was so great to see all of the workers talk so passionately about their topic.

The final place we visited was Peggy Adams Animal Shelter.  Although I worked with Peggy Adams a little over the summer, it was still great to be back! The ladies showed us around the shelter and brought us closer to the dogs/kittens.  My favorite part about this shelter is that they never euthanize the dog-  even if the dog has been there for years.  It was very comforting to know that they never harm any animals or put them to sleep when they have no where else to be.  This was a very important organization because unlike humans, animals can’t speak their minds.  It was great seeing the group speak on behalf of the animals at the shelter.

 

This class has taught me lessons that I thought I would never be able to learn.  It taught me that it is essential to give back to your community, connect with others, and that nothing is impossible.  We aren’t too small to make a big difference on the world.  With love, time, devotion, and help from our friends or family…anything is possible.

For the Philanthropy team that we had the pleasure of working with…

Thank you so much for making this possible for us.

For the Family Member/Mentor/Friend Interview assignment, I chose my mom to answer a few of the questions below.

1. Where did you grow up, and how were things different then than they are today?

-“I grew up in Bronx, New York.  There were no computers, no video games, no cellphones, etc.   You would have to find something to do outside with friends (hopscotch, wiffle ball, etc.).  It definitely gave us a chance to get to know each other better and become more involved with what was going on outside in the real world, rather than staying cooped up inside on the internet.”

2. What was an experience you had as a young person that changed your life? What lessons did you learn from that experience?

-“When I was younger, I had to take care of my younger siblings.  Being the oldest sibling out of 4 children, I never had much time to myself.  I spent a lot of time helping out around the house and taking care of my brother and two younger sisters.  It definitely made me more independent.”

3. How were money matters handled in your family growing up?

-“My father handled all of the money.  He would make sure to split everything equally between his four children.”

4. What are some lessons about money that a young person should know?

-“Remember to save for your future.  Don’t spend on things that aren’t necessities.”

5. What are some organizations or causes you have supported or that you now support with your charitable giving and/or community service?

-“When I lived in New York, I gave many donations over the years to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.”

6. What are some ways that charitable giving and community service have made your life better?

-“It was definitely a good feeling knowing that I was making an impact on people’s lives.”

7. What are some reasons you think it’s important that young people today get involved in charitable giving and community service?

-“It is a very selfless thing to do.  It truly shows that you have a good heart/compassion for others.”

8. If you could fix one serious problem in the world today, what would that be? Explain why that area of concern is so important to you.

-“Cancer in young teens (and adults too, for that matter). It is something that upsets us all.  It is also something we have yet to find a cure for, but it is awful to see young children going through so much pain.  No one should have to go through something like that and it is something I wish we could find a solution to.”

9. Tell me about a time when it felt like you made a meaningful difference in someone’s life, or in your community, or in our country.

-“When I used to work in NYC, I gave money/food to the injured veterans.  There was this one guy I would see every morning on the way to work, and I would bring him breakfast or give him money before walking into my office building.  I like to think that such a simple act like that had an impact on his life.  It may be only one person, but knowing I put a smile on his face made me really happy.”

10. In your opinion, what are some secrets to a joyful and fulfilling life?

-“Creating a family, for sure.  Teaching them to not only love and respect others, but to also give back.  Everyone has a story.  Everyone goes through hard times, but it is important to recognize this.  Giving back and helping those in need is what brings us all together.”

My group’s main focus is on children and medical care. We have all contacted the Quantum House and Palm Beach Children’s Hospital. The Quantum House seemed the most interested in our cause and they were one of the few that responded to let us know that they would love to work with us. Palm Beach Children’s Hospital did not answer so Sarah left them a message, but we never heard back.

The Quantum House’s Information:
Laura: lbelcher@quantumhouse.org
Megan: mthompson@quantumhouse.org

Throughout the class, our guest speaker taught us a great deal of useful information on how to read different tax forms. He focused on the 990 forms, which are mainly used for our philanthropy project. The 990 forms are there to help us find out how successful or unsucessful a business is doing (financially).  It is the most essential step in starting or investing in a business so you know if the business is doing well.  We learned that we must always invest in a business that is financially stable.  And the main lesson today allowed us to focus on this.  My teammates and I looked at the 990 forms of our organizations through a website called guidestar.org.  After looking at the 990 forms of the Quantum House, we learned that they made money this past year and they are doing well financially.  We predicted that they will be able to survive for over a year.  My group and I are very excited to be working with Quantum house.  We all wanted to find an organization that truly wanted to work with us and help our ideas become a reality, and Quantum house made us feel very good about this.