Frequently Asked Questions
Is my grandchild too young to begin the philanthropy program?
You can send a certificate to your grandchild when they are born confirming that they are a life-long philanthropist. Then we can help you with suggestions of yearly or bi-yearly gifts. For example, at 8 months, buy the book, "Pat the Bunny." When they pat the bunny, you can say, "What a gentle child." When they look into the little mirror, you can say, "What a good-hearted child." Thus we begin to ascribe values that we want them to treasure as they get older.
Is my grandchild to old to begin to be a philanthropist?
No one is too old to start to think about giving to others. A grandchild that is going away to college should certainly begin to think more about helping others more than perhaps he or she did when younger. People who are just getting married should certainly know that this is a perfect time to not only consider their own lives, but the lives of others. A friend who is 40 years old just received a sum of money from her father in order to encourage her to think more about her role in philanthropy as an adult woman.
Can one person really make a difference?
Check out the website called, "Young Philanthropists." It is amazing what people can do. I just read an article where a woman described walking into a room filled with women, and the kindness in the room changed her entire life. She is now a social action activist herself. Her life change began only with kindness from other women.
What if I am not consistent in helping my grandchildren to be philanthropists?
I wanted to have club meetings, and to call about their philanthropy projects each month and I haven’t followed through.
From Bubba Sharon - "First, the idea is to only do the best you can. If you only contact the kids about it once a YEAR, that is more than if you did not help them at all. So don’t give it up because you don’t talk about philanthropy or do social action projects regularly. One person said that they put a note in their calendar each month so they could send a reminder to their grandchildren- just asking what they did philanthropically that month. She ended up keeping a journal of their thoughts.”
What if my grandchildren live far away?
From Bubba Sharon - "When you go to visit, you can tell them about the concept. You can bring a certificate saying they are life-long philanthropists. You can plan and do a social action project with them while you are there. When you return home, you can skype with the children to have discussions. Or you can tell them to think about what they want to do next time you visit. Or they can ask for some of their philanthropy funds over the phone, and you can discuss the projects that interest them. Remember, a philanthropist is one that gives money, voice and service to others.”
What if my grandchild is a different religion?
From Bubba Sharon - "One of the main reasons that I founded Grandparents for social action is that I knew it was an issue that was important to my children who were not practicing Judaism. The concept of Tzedakah (justice) has similar ramifications to the concept of charity (love) I knew it would be a comfortable subject to discuss with my grandchildren. However, in all things, share with your children what you hope to do with your grandchildren so that you are all in agreement.”
You can send a certificate to your grandchild when they are born confirming that they are a life-long philanthropist. Then we can help you with suggestions of yearly or bi-yearly gifts. For example, at 8 months, buy the book, "Pat the Bunny." When they pat the bunny, you can say, "What a gentle child." When they look into the little mirror, you can say, "What a good-hearted child." Thus we begin to ascribe values that we want them to treasure as they get older.
Is my grandchild to old to begin to be a philanthropist?
No one is too old to start to think about giving to others. A grandchild that is going away to college should certainly begin to think more about helping others more than perhaps he or she did when younger. People who are just getting married should certainly know that this is a perfect time to not only consider their own lives, but the lives of others. A friend who is 40 years old just received a sum of money from her father in order to encourage her to think more about her role in philanthropy as an adult woman.
Can one person really make a difference?
Check out the website called, "Young Philanthropists." It is amazing what people can do. I just read an article where a woman described walking into a room filled with women, and the kindness in the room changed her entire life. She is now a social action activist herself. Her life change began only with kindness from other women.
What if I am not consistent in helping my grandchildren to be philanthropists?
I wanted to have club meetings, and to call about their philanthropy projects each month and I haven’t followed through.
From Bubba Sharon - "First, the idea is to only do the best you can. If you only contact the kids about it once a YEAR, that is more than if you did not help them at all. So don’t give it up because you don’t talk about philanthropy or do social action projects regularly. One person said that they put a note in their calendar each month so they could send a reminder to their grandchildren- just asking what they did philanthropically that month. She ended up keeping a journal of their thoughts.”
What if my grandchildren live far away?
From Bubba Sharon - "When you go to visit, you can tell them about the concept. You can bring a certificate saying they are life-long philanthropists. You can plan and do a social action project with them while you are there. When you return home, you can skype with the children to have discussions. Or you can tell them to think about what they want to do next time you visit. Or they can ask for some of their philanthropy funds over the phone, and you can discuss the projects that interest them. Remember, a philanthropist is one that gives money, voice and service to others.”
What if my grandchild is a different religion?
From Bubba Sharon - "One of the main reasons that I founded Grandparents for social action is that I knew it was an issue that was important to my children who were not practicing Judaism. The concept of Tzedakah (justice) has similar ramifications to the concept of charity (love) I knew it would be a comfortable subject to discuss with my grandchildren. However, in all things, share with your children what you hope to do with your grandchildren so that you are all in agreement.”
