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Challenge: Raising Kind Kids

Project No Fool

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Project No Fool originated in our family several years ago when my children's grandparents challenged them to each find a charity to give a portion of their Christmas money to. My husband and I loved the idea and decided we would match their donations with our own. Beside sending a financial gift, we also thought we should make an investment of time as a way to make a greater personal impact and to help develop empathy.

Knowing each of my kids' passions and natural bent, I made a list of some local charities I thought would interest them. Hearing about various organizations, especially those serving kids, helped expand my kids' thinking and create the desire to help. After a tough decision the first year we sent an inner city kid to camp, helped fund a ball field for special needs kids and collected diapers to accompany our check to a foster care agency.

The connection to each of the organizations they chose was very personal and made for memorable interactions. Because my children know what they gain from summer camp, my daughter loved being able to give that experience to another child. And when that child wrote to my daughter to tell what she loved and learned of camp, we cried.

My middle-child had a special needs kid in his class at school so the Miracle League, an organization dedicated to providing all special needs kids regardless of their disabilities the opportunity to play baseball, was the perfect pick for him. The best part about it was my son's baseball team signed up to be the "buddies" for the special needs players at one of their games.

And for my youngest, supporting foster care meant changing the life of a child. Even at his young age, he already knew this because of the story of his good friend who had been adopted out of foster care. He couldn't imagine her not in the family God provided for her.

By showing them first-hand the blessing of giving and the difference just one person - even a child - can make, we are planting seeds that we continue to sow and see growing in them. Nothing makes me more proud than seeing them have the eyes to see others in need and to initiate to do something about it. Even something small leaves a big impact for the person on the receiving end of kindness and compassion. Thus, the name for our project stemming from the lyrics in Carrie Underwood's song, Change:

"Oh the smallest thing can make all the difference. Love is alive. Don't listen to them when they say you're just a fool to belive you can change the world."
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