Busy in Boston

ONE CENT:

Dear Busy,

Giving money to a great cause is a wonderful thing to do and I applaud you for it!  If we could all be more generous with our money, our world would be an infinitely better place.  At SixSeeds we emphasize the giving of time as a family because we’ve found the benefits for our children and our family as a whole are priceless and an important investment into their futures as, hopefully, “lifelong givers”.  When our kids paint, build and clean a school in Mexico, side-by-side with their Mexican peers, they gain experience about the world, generosity, poverty, dignity, hard work and friendship.  Hands-on experiences make a great impact as we’re trying to raise our children to become generous in spirit and with their money, now and into their future.

TWO CENT:

Dear Busy, We believe that actually showing up to volunteer helps you give your money more effectively.  Only when you can see how things are run with your two eyes can you really know if, when, and how much to give to an organization.

However, it's great that you're giving financially...  We just encourage families to work side-by-side, an activity that benefits everyone and speaks a lot more loudly to a child than writing a check. Kids just don't usually grasp the concept of banks and tax deductions. So next time you sit down to write one of those big checks, explain to your kids how the process works and why you're supporting your cause!