New Fund Teaches Children the Importance of Giving

Teaching children the skill of giving is as important as teaching healthy eating habits, maths and literacy, or encouraging their sporting skills, according to the founder of a new philanthropic fund, Kids in Philanthropy.

Kids in Philanthropy, which is a sub-fund of the Sydney Community Foundation, will reportedly involve children in all aspects of philanthropy guiding them through fundraising and the development of programs to help make a genuine difference to the lives of their peers living in Sydney’s disadvantaged suburbs.

KIP’s founder, Dr Catrion Wallace, said that instilling a sense of compassion and giving in children was a vital part of their development.

“Research shows a direct link between giving, good health and happiness,” Dr Wallace said.

“Yet we increasingly find kids in privileged suburbs have little involvement and awareness of how other children may live, even in their own city.

Dr Wallace, who is launching the fund with her two children, said that she wanted to bring philanthropy back into the home.

“We want to make it the heart of dinner time conversation and most of all we want to spread the benefits of giving – not only among the families involved but through the communities that benefit.”

KIP says it is supported by an Advisory Board including Sydney Community Foundation’s Kristi Mansfield, psychologist Dr Tracey Pillinger and child philanthropy consultant Melanie Greblo.

KIP executive director, Kristi Mansfield, said that even before the program had been officially launched, it was generating strong interest from parents and some of Sydney’s top private schools.

“We’ve had a great response from schools and parents that have been looking for a way to get children actively involved in philanthropy,” Mansfield said.

“Parents have told us they see this as an opportunity to encourage a compassion and also strengthen their own family bonds by working together to help others.”

The KIP fund will be officially launched on Sunday May 27.