Education: Overview | Photo Gallery | Resources | Curriculum | Sample Check

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CHARITY CHECKS are a unique tool to
Teach the Joy of Giving and to Improve Charitable Literacy

Giving Classrooms are spreading the joy of giving across the country with students becoming thoughtful philanthropists. Last school year students wrote out Charity Checks to favorite causes in public schools, private schools, overseas American schools; with corporate and individual sponsors and with "KIDS TO KIDS GIVING" -- High School students raising money to sponsor elementary classes.

Charity Checks created the Charitable Literacy program so students can have a hands-on Giving experience and start the habit of philanthropy. (Watch KNBC's coverage of a Giving Classroom at the Wonderland School in Hollywood, California; KCAL's coverage of Verbum Dei High School in Watts, California; WCBS's coverage of the KAPPA 2 School in Harlem, New York.)

In a sponsored classroom, every student receives a Charity Check for $25 and the opportunity to be a thoughtful philanthropist. CHARITY CHECKS act like Gift Certificates, except instead of buying goods, these Giving Certificates Do Good. They can be used as a donation to any of the 800,000 nonprofits in this country (recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3)). There are also free curriculum and resources, sample checks, and photo galleries

A classroom can be sponsored by an individual or group (anonymously or with their logo on the check). The students can also raise the money for themselves. To find out more about bringing Charity Checks to your classroom, or to sponsor a classroom, email Charity Checks by clicking here.

After researching charities, and talking with their classmates and families about their values, students can fill in their individual CHARITY CHECKS and mail them to the respective causes they care about. They make a difference, and they learn --

• CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS are exercised as a student decides which charity to give to and why. From the basic (Do you want to help locally or nationally? Help an animal or a person? The arts or the environment?) to more sophisticated analysis, including looking at how charities spend the dollars they receive.
• INTERPERSONAL skills are strengthened as a student learns about their own values and priorities. Self confidence can also be built when a student realizes the power of his or her own actions. One person can help!
• RESEARCH abilities are tested. Research can be conducted on the Internet, in the library, through community organizations, in class, and at home.
• COMMUNICATIONS Talking with family about different options, debating with classmates, writing about the choices the student made. All give communication skills a meaningful context.
• KNOWLEDGE about the way the private sector works (one third of our economy). Lessons with Charity Checks can be related to Social Studies, English, Civics, Math, History, and Economics.
• BEHAVIOR You don't have to be an A student or the Soccer Captain to make a difference. "Learning the Joy of Giving" is a powerful habit that can start at any age, pass any test for a meaningful life and win any game based on making a positive difference. Charity is a major component of being a thoughtful part of the world around you.

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"Charity Checks," "Giving Certificates," "The Giving Package," "Give the Joy of Giving," and "Teach the Joy of Giving" are trademarks, and "Charitable Literacy" and "Philanthropreneur" are servicemarks, of Charity Checks, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation.
© 2004-2007 Charity Checks, Inc.