We hold business to a higher moral standard today than ever before. Not only do they have to be socially responsible, we even have the audacity to ask businesses to pay out of pocket to support social causes.
Story time
Once a year when I was a child, my parents gave me money. It wasn’t my personal allowance – it was my donation allowance. I would split the money in the two envelopes and send them off to KQED and the WWF.
It made me happy not because I thought I was a “good” person, but because my parents had taught me that it was something we should do. Besides, the membership cards were snazzy. Truth be told, they were nowhere near snazzy, but I felt snazzy.
I don’t remember for how long I was a proud donor but I did carry around my membership cards until high school. When I stopped donating, I began volunteering and it has endured to this day.
Times are-a-changing in personal values
I have noticed that an increasing number of my friends and acquaintances identify with certain charities. Perhaps it’s a natural result of whom I surround myself with, or maybe I’m on to something.
Driven by Millennials, supporting a personal non-profit will become mainstream. It will be like having a college plan or a job and will no doubt contribute to the growth of the social sector.
The cycle continues…
When I have children of my own, I will give them money and envelopes. They’ll choose the non-profits that they like and I will walk them to the mailbox. They will feel happy, just as I did, but not know why just yet. They grow up and one day realize that it was pride that made them happy. A certain pride that comes with being a social care-taker.
We have the audacity to ask businesses to pay out of pocket to support social causes. How about ourselves? I hope this observed trend isn’t just anecdotal.
Do you support a personal non-profit? Do you enable your kids to give?
Happy Holidays! 
EDIT:
I just found out about Kids are Heroes (@kidsareheroes on Twitter) where kids are given the support and tools to make a difference. Thank you Gabe and MaryMargaret!
KyNam,
Check out http://www.kidsareheroes.com. It was started by my 10-year-old daughter and I. Lots of kids are giving in a VERY big way!
(@TeamCharlie, @KidsAreHeroes on Twitter)
Gabe,
What a great daughter you have
. You two are doing fantastic work. This is exactly what I was hoping to find. What gave you the idea?
KyNam and Gabe,
Wow, you guys really inspired me and made me think. Somehow this year, on Xmas eve as it is now, I dont feel associating it with shopping – not much shopping going on, is there? but lots of people going thru tough times…
Your Kids are really Heroes, Gabe
. The future belongs to them when they become adults like we are, only more socially responsive and happier (they all look happy, dont they?).
And it’s a provoking and interesting idea you put out there, KyNam – that social responsibility / nonprofit volunteering become part of daily conversation, like “a job” or a “college plan.” That’s the kind of world where there will be even more “heroes” – including adults who started out with the community spirit when young…
Btw, you mentioned the growing “social sector.” if I remember it correctly, it was Peter Drucker – the premier business-social thinker and visionary who forecasted many years back – in the midst of a “Me-Me” culture, that we would see the emergence and growth of the new “social sector” in advanced economies like ours, where public service and volunteering flourish.
Meanwhile, Happy Holidays to you all…
)
Alan