Philanthropy being taught in school

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Most kids do not spend their free time thinking about philanthropy. Yet, it is now part of the curiculum at 15 Central Texas schools, and it is making a big impact on students getting involved in their community. For the past two weeks at Caraway Elementary School in North Austin, students are hauling more than books to school. The heavy bags are filled with non-perishable food. This is not a typically food drive; it is a lesson in philanthropy.

"The people who have a home, but don't have enough money to get food, and the people who have no money, and don't get any food," said third-grader Heidi Jackson. Caraway Elementary is one of 15 schools in Austin, Round Rock and the Eanes School District taking part in a new program called Legacy of Giving.

"The mission for Legacy of Giving is to empower children through philanthropy education to become more engaged in their community and their world," said Linda Brucker, the Executive Director of Legacy of Giving. The program makes philanthropy part of the curriculum. It is first taught in the classroom.

"They talk about a want versus a need and they talk about philanthropy and what their responsibilities are," said Brucker. This month's lesson is on homelessness, hunger and poverty. "We learn that some people don't have houses, and we're really lucky to have houses, food and money," said Rachel Whittenburg, a third-grader at Caraway.

In order to help the less fortunate, the students decided to use their new philanthropy skills to organize a food drive. "I think it would be fun to help people who do not have a lot of money," said third-grader Jake Green. The principal offered up her office to store the food. The goal is to give her as little room as possible until the cans are shipped off to the Capital Area Food Bank next week.

"We want the children to know they can be the change, they are the change, and they can make a difference in making the world a better place," said Brucker. The Legacy of Giving program is only in 15 schools right now, the goal is to make it part of the curriculum across Texas.