edition 5–6 • november 2015 • vol. 2 • no. 3 Made possible by the PwC Charitable ®

original fully vector logo, restored 2/2015 (Old embedded letter “S” that we created as ver 7, we decided was NG. This is now version 8) financial literacy for kids helping hands There are many ways to make the world a better place. Learn about five kids who are making a difference.

As a volunteer for The Miracle League, Lauren Kassin helps Jimmy Dingee play baseball.

timeforkids.com Claire Sammons, 12 Nicolette Narine, 12 CHANGING LIVES Wheaton, Illinois Brooklyn, New York CHANGING LIVES Founder: Share the Light Member and volunteer: Kids are starting charities, bears? Whatever your goal is, you can Madison Square Boys & Girls Club , and raising money help. Look for local groups that share your “Every three minutes, and awareness for causes. goals, or branch out and start your own someone is diagnosed Nicolette has been a member of the organization. Don’t let big ideas overwhelm with cancer,” Madison Square Boys & Girls Club for When you think about making the world a you. Remember: Even a small plan can Claire says. At almost four years. Now that she’s older, better place, what comes to mind? Ending create big change. Here are five kids who age 6, Claire lost her she volunteers with the group’s Triple Play world hunger? Curing cancer? Saving polar will inspire you. —By Kelly Hultgren aunt to the disease. She Leadership program, which puts kids ages later started raising money 10 to 18 in charge of sports for younger for Camp Kesem, a camp members. She mentors, coaches, and assists Andrew, 14, and for kids who have a parent with games. She Lauren Kassin, 11 with cancer. Her , also helps raise Share the Light, raises money for the Chappaqua, money by selling hand- club. “When New York decorated luminarias, or you help your Volunteers: paper bags that can be lit community, The Miracle League up by votive candles. you feel like Each costs 50¢ to you’re making a Many weekends, you’ll make, and Claire difference,” says find Andrew and sells them for Nicolette. Lauren on the baseball $5. The young field with The Miracle p hilanthropist Madison S Madison League. The siblings donates 100% of her buddy up with players profits to Camp Kesem. MEMBER

AND MENTOR Clu & Girls Boys quare ily with disabilities, like autism m In the last two years, she’s Nicolette Narine or cerebral palsy. “Volunteering MAN WITH A PLAN Jonas Corona raised more than $2,000. gives back to would not take no for an answer when homeless ons fa the organization

made me more understanding of mm shelters told him he was too young to volunteer. LIGHTING UP LIVES Claire Sammons different people and different that has given makes and sells luminarias to benefit a her so much. circumstances,” says Lauren. camp for children affected by cancer. b Jonas Corona, 12 ourtesy sa “Sometimes, it takes [a c player] five minutes Long Beach, California to hit the baseball,” Founder: Love in the Mirror FAMILY CHALLENGE says Andrew. “Being Celebrate Giving Tuesday with your family patient and cheering At age 4, Jonas helped his family feed homeless by doing an at-home treasure hunt. Search makes him or her people. He felt sad to see kids living without CELEBRATE #GIVINGTUESDAY your house for anything you’re not using feel so much better, or enough food. He wanted to help, Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks. anymore: kitchen utensils, dishes, towels, and makes you feel but many shelters said he was too young #GivingTuesday is a time to give back! sheets, food, clothes, books, or school so good.” to volunteer. So at age 6, he started his own On Tuesday, December 1, celebrate supplies. Then donate the goods to an charity, Love in the Mirror. The nonprofit with charities, families, businesses, and appropriate cause. Visit givingtuesday.org to organization gathers food, clothes, and TEAM PLAYERS Jalyn communities around the world. c find out more ways you can get involved. Castillo and Andrew supplies from individuals and companies c ourtesy ily m Kassin (above) and Lauren and distributes them to local shelters. Kassin and Jimmy Dingee

“Don’t let anybody say you’re too young to faorona team up to play baseball POWER WORDS do something,” says Jonas. “And don’t be shy together as part of The nonprofit adjective: not for the purpose of philanthropist noun: a person who gives money

Miracle League. about asking for help.” m

ily making a profit and time to help make life better for others ourtesy kassin fa c

2 November 2015 cover: COURTESY kassin family 3 It Feels Good to Give Back You might have heard the expression It’s better to give than to receive. It’s not just a saying; it’s a fact. Studies have shown that giving back makes you feel good. When you give money or time to a cause you care about, you’re rewarded with feel-good brain chemicals, like dopamine. Giving back makes you healthier, too. People who spend time or money on charity sleep more, exercise more, and stress less. DAVE KOTINSKY—UNICEF/GETTYDAVE IMAGES

ASK JEAN

Jean Chatzky is a money expert.

How do I determine how much COURTESY JEAN CHATZKY

money to spend, put in a savings IMAGES GETTY account, or donate to charity? —Julia Darcy, 13, Bolton, Massachusetts Make a habit of saving 15% of any money you have—that means 15¢ of every dollar of Is This Charity Legit? your allowance, birthday , or paycheck. It’s sad but true that some people try to take Hold onto that habit; it will set you up for advantage of other people’s goodwill by creating financial success as an adult. How much to fake charities. Before you donate to any charity, take give to charity is often a family decision. these three steps to make sure it’s legitimate. Some families , which means giving 10% of their income to their place of worship. 1. Get the details. Ask for the group’s exact name, On average, Americans give about 3% of address, and telephone number. their income to charities. So, bottom line: 2. Do your homework. Go online with your parents to Put at least 15% into savings (more if you’re research the group’s reputation. Plug in the charity’s saving for something special that you want name, along with the word complaint or scam. to buy down the road), talk with your family about how much to give to charity, and give 3. Check it out on a trustworthy site. Use the yourself permission to spend the rest. following websites to double-check that your charity is real: give.org, charitynavigator.org, Do you have a question? Write to Jean at charitywatch.org, or guidestar.org. (Tip: These sites are [email protected]. also good for finding charities in your area!)

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