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Members of the H.A.N.D.S. Foundation
view youth as the most valuable
asset of Whitley County, Indiana.
The promise of the future lies in
our youth; therefore, we must make
every effort to plant seeds of
kindness within them. For this
reason, the Foundation annually
hosts Littlest Philanthropist Day.
One meeting each year, members break
away from the monthly meeting
routine and travel to elementary
schools throughout the county to
teach third grade students about the
three Ts: time, talent, and
treasure. Five of the fifteen
members teach each ‘T.’ During the
‘time’ session, children write
letters for hospital patients,
nursing home residents, soldiers,
etc., and even get their pictures
taken to enclose in the envelope.
The ‘talent’ group helps each
student discover his/her unique
talents. Last, but not least, the
‘treasure’ group issues each student
two pieces of coin-shaped, gold
foil-wrapped chocolate. The students
are allowed to keep one, but are
required to give one to someone
else. All three groups explain and
give ideas to the third grade
students of how they can use their
time, talent, and treasure to help
others. The sessions incorporate
games, puzzles, and other fun
activities which will help the
students enjoy and remember learning
about philanthropy. The last group
in each class announces to the
children that if their class can
create a philanthropic project, the
H.A.N.D.S. Foundation will fund
$100.00 for that projects execution,
thus allowing the students and
teachers to become actively involved
and experience philanthropy
first-hand while improving our
community in the method of their
choice. While the third-grade
students definitely enjoy this
activity, Littlest Philanthropist
Day always tops the H.A.N.D.S.
members’ list of most
looked-forward-to meeting dates and
activities.
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