Los Altos Community Foundation Launches Family Giving Project

Encourages a Lifetime of Philanthropy
The Los Altos Community Foundation invites community members to participate in its upcoming Family Giving Project, a five-part series that will provide children grades 1 - 6 and their parents with the tools for life-long community philanthropic engagement.

The course, developed by Foundation staff and volunteers and piloted in 2009, will bring together eight families for five classes to cover topics such as: What is Philanthropy and how are we already doing it? What are our family values and how might they inform the ways in which we choose to give? How do we select organizations and charities that we know are doing good work? The course will also include a group visit to a local nonprofit.

The classes will be built around family group learning and activities that bring parents and children together to help them to make giving choices as a family based on what they learn in the course.

"We know that children pay a great deal of attention to what their parents do, almost more than what they say. We think this course will provide a wonderful opportunity for parents to demonstrate the importance of thinking about how we spend our time and money, and how even small gifts of time or money can make a big difference," said Nancy Lippe, Program Officer at the foundation. "Additionally, learning in a community setting will help to reinforce for children that this is what our community as a whole values, not just their parents."

The classes will take place from 4:00 - 5:45pm over five Sundays - January 31st, February 7th and 28th, and March 14th and 28th at the Neutra House, 181 HIllview Avenue, Los Altos.

The registration fee for the course is $50, which the Foundation will match and return to the families at the end of the course to be used as the families' first post-course giving project. "This way, the children and their parents can use what they've learned directly and be able to share with the group where they decided to give their $100 and why," said Lippe.

For more information or to register contact Nancy Lippe at LACF at 650-949-5908 X7 or email familygivingproject@gmail.com.

 

 

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