Five-year-old Stephen Levine watched the devastating scenes from Japan last month and decided he needed to do something to help.
The kindergarten student from Washington, D.C., took $13 of his allowance money - all that he had in his savings jar - and mailed it to the Red Cross for the Japanese relief effort.
"My son has always been particularly generous and compassionate, so this gesture did not take me completely by surprise," said Laura Levine, executive director of the JumpStart Coalition, a nonprofit organization that promotes financial education of pre-kindergarten through college-age youth.
The youngster's donation is typical of the humanitarian outpouring that has occurred since the earthquake and tsunami hit Japan. From swimathons and bake-offs to tennis shoe collections and clothing drives, the influence of children on giving to the stricken nation can be clearly seen.
According to the Chronicle of Philanthropy, Americans have donated more than $161 million to Japan through March 25. Nearly two-thirds of that money - in small and large sums - has been raised by the American Red Cross.
While the initial philanthropic surge has passed, millions of families are still wondering what they can do to help.
Your home might be a good place to start.
If you haven't done so already, the crisis in Japan presents a TV-relevant opportunity to teach your children to be good Samaritans in times of great need. Here are some suggestions from financial education experts on how to accomplish this:
-Develop a routine. Encourage your children at a young age to set aside part of their allowance or gift money for giving to charity. There are many good books and products that can help you instill this notion.
-Resist the temptation to add to your child's donation. Their gift should stand alone - the same goes with including a short note in the envelope (even if you have to grit your teeth over the spelling). Express your generosity separately.
-Preach caution and stick with "known" organizations. Check out charities and relief organizations at http://www.bbb.org/charity. Better yet, let older children do the research. Also, children need to be cautious about online giving, especially with spam messages and other email that claim to link to a relief organization.
-Be creative. Agree as a family to skip a restaurant dinner or a sporting event, then donate the amount that would have been spent on the activity to a favorite charity.
-Donate time and talent. If your child doesn't have money of her own, she can still participate in fundraising efforts organized through school or an organization.
Remember, it's not how or what your children send. It's about teaching them how they can make an impact. And whatever happens, said JumpStart's Levine, parents need to "encourage, value, praise and, most importantly, set a good example."
HELPING HANDS:
Among the major charities that have raised funds for Japan relief, through March 25:
-The American Red Cross: $107 million
-Save the Children: $9.6 million
-United Way Worldwide: $6 million
-The Salvation Army: $4 million
-International Medical Corps: $2.3 million
SOURCE: The Chronicle of Philanthropy
ABOUT THE WRITER
Steve Rosen is assistant business editor at The Kansas City Star. Readers may write to him at: The Kansas City Star, 1729 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, Mo. 64108; e-mail: srosen@kcstar.com.
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