These Learning Links provide ten quick-and-easy, five-minute mini-lessons to promote student thought and dialogue about service and civic engagement. You may use as many of them as you wish, and in whatever order best meets your needs and the interest of your students. The purpose of these mini-lessons is to provide a deeper understanding of philanthropy (the giving of time, talent, and treasure for the common good) and to reinforce the lesson focus. These Learning Links also promote the development of character traits, civic engagement, and student leadership. As appropriate to your grade level, it is recommended that students play an active leadership role in presenting these mini-lessons to their classmates.

1. Read: The word poor can define a need in many areas besides just those that reference money and possessions. The word poverty is specifically defined as the condition of having little money and few material possessions. In international and community development literature, the word poverty carries the additional meaning of deprivation of basic needs. The basic needs are typically identified as food, water, shelter, sanitation, healthcare and education. Everyone knows, however, that beyond these basic needs there are other needs that, if met, could also result in the improvement of human and social conditions. For example, meeting the needs of the local humane society, Habitat for Humanity, Boys and Girls Clubs, contributing to United Way, or similar non-profit organizations are just a few of the many groups that meet the needs of a community. Though not always “basic” in nature, these needs if met would contribute to the common good.
   
   Discuss: In what ways is our Penny Drive contributing to “basic needs” of our community? In what ways might our Penny Drive result in the improvement for human and social conditions; contribute to the common good? Why might it be important to be concerned about both “basic needs” as well as “common good needs”? Is one more important that the other? Why or why not?
   
    
2. Read: Beginning with the sale of hockey sticks out of the trunk of her car, Barbara Longstreth began what today is considered to be North America’s leading source for women’s and girl’s sports equipment and apparel: Longstreth Women's Sports. She met Mohinder Gill, a student from India, and agreed to sell his field hockey sticks when she traveled with her field hockey team. Having graduated from college where she was an All-American in both, Field Hockey and Lacrosse, Ms.Longstreth went on to coach and participate as a player in both sports at all levels of competition. During her eighteen years of playing and coaching, she was a team member of the nation's leading lacrosse team, Philadelphia 1. In 1991 her company added fastpitch softball bats and gloves to their line of sports products as well as other softball related products. Ms. Longstreth attributes her business success not only to the quality of her products and excellent prices but also to the panel of experts who advise her, her passion for women’s sports, and the personal attention that her company gives to the players and their needs.
   
   Discuss: As we plan our Penny Drive what can we learn from Ms. Longstreth’s success that could help us make our event a success as well? What role do you think “experts” could possibly play in our Penny Drive? What role do you think “passion” might play in our Penny Drive? Why might it be important that we identify the needs to which we will donate our money, before we begin our collection of money?
   
    
3. Read: The phrase “a drop in the bucket” first appeared in ancient religious writings. Later In 1802, a piece from The Edinburgh Weekly Journal referenced the phrase “a drop in the ocean,” when it reported that the votes for the appointment of Bonaparte to be Chief Consul for life were like a drop in the ocean compared with the total population of France. Ironically many feel that this phrase could also be used to describe elected officials being voted in by a mere “drop in the ocean” compared to the number or potential voters in the United States. The meaning of both of these phrases, “a drop in the bucket” and “a drop in the ocean,” is the same today as it was in ancient times. When one says of something that it is just “a drop in the bucket (or ocean)” one is referring to a very small proportion of the whole. For example the number of kids in our class is a “drop in the bucket” when compared to the number of kids in schools all over the world. The idea is that “a drop in the bucket” is pretty insignificant when compared to the whole.
   
   Discuss: I image that there are a lot of students who wonder about what difference their Penny Drive contributions will make. A few pennies here, some nickels there, maybe even a couple of dimes or perhaps a quarter… may seem pretty unimportant when compared to the need. But maybe not! This past 2006 holiday season when the loose change that people in Dearborn, Michigan dropped in the Salvation Army’s Red Kettles was counted, the amount totaled $328,626! “It seems that when enough people take the time to donate, those dollars and coins can quickly add up…” said one Red Kettle volunteer. How can we convince our peers that their “drop in the bucket (or ocean)” can add up to some pretty significant amounts? Why might it be important to get as many students to contribute to our Penny Drive as possible no matter what amount they give?
   
    
4. Read: Perhaps you have heard of the non-profit organization known as Locks of Love? This organization provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under the age of 18 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis. The Locks of Love organization meets a unique need for children by using donated hair to create the highest quality hair prosthetics. Most of the children helped by Locks of Love have lost their hair due to a medical condition called alopecia areata, which has no known cause or cure, as well as chemotherapy cancer patients. The prostheses help restore these kids self-esteem and their confidence, enabling them to face the world and their peers. The Locks of Love mission statement reads: Our mission is to return a sense of self, confidence, and normalcy to children suffering from hair loss by utilizing donated ponytails to provide the highest quality hair prosthetics to financially disadvantaged children. The children receive hair prostheses free of charge or on a sliding scale, based on financial need.
   
   Discuss: How might our Penny Drive event help return a “sense of self-esteem, confidence, and/or normalcy” to the individual or group of individuals who receive our contributions? In what ways might donating ones hair to Locks of Love and donating money to our Penny Drive be similar? What role might self-esteem play for those who make a donation as well as for those who will be the recipients of our donations?
   www.locksoflove.org/donate.html
   
    
5. Read: When someone wants to stress the point that something is worthless or nearly so, they might use phrases, such as “it’s not worth a plugged nickel” or “it’s not worth a red cent”. A plugged nickel in the 1800s referred to a debased five-cent coin; a red cent denotes the smallest American coin, which was red when made of pure copper in the 1800s. Typically, coins of these denominations cost more to make than their face value is worth in purchasing power. Someone who is careful with his or her money, hoards it or closely examines purchases to get the highest possible value has historically been referred to as a “penny pincher”. While the label of “penny pincher” is not necessarily one that is complimentary, those who are able to “get a good deal and still save money” are often envied. Some might consider Benjamin Franklin’s quote, “A penny saved is a penny earned” as the “penny pincher’s” motto. But recently this anonymous quote appeared in a fund raising pamphlet, “A penny earned is a penny saved, but a penny given to someone in need is money in the bank plus interest!”
   
   Discuss: How might we impress upon others that no “nickel” or “penny” is insignificant, especially when it comes to our Penny Drive? How can we encourage “penny pinchers” to contribute to our Penny Drive? What do you think the anonymous author of the quote, “A penny earned is a penny saved, but a penny given to someone in need is money in the bank plus interest!” meant? How could we use quote to promote our Penny Drive?
   
    
6. Read: It is reported that 5.3 % of all contributions to charity come from businesses and corporations, who see giving as an investment in community well-being, a better environment, and motivated and healthier employees. Non-Profit organizations and Foundations account for 11.5% of all charitable contributions; contributions that are given to their specifically designated charitable causes. But did you know that individual giving accounts for over 83.2% of all money given to charitable causes. The main reason individuals give is because they are asked and presented with a specific need that motivates them.
   
   Discuss: Given these figures why might it be important that as individuals we do our share? If our classmates are like most individuals who give to charitable causes, how might asking them to participate in our Penny Drive event be helpful? What “needs” might be more likely to motivate our peers to participate in our Penny Drive event?
   www.nps.gov/partnerships/
   fundraising_individuals_motivations.htm
   
    
7. Read: Many organizations, including those that collect food, clothing and other non-perishable items, encourage fundraising as well. Often these organizations are able to obtain matching funds from individual donors, businesses, and/or the government. Matching funds is a term used to describe the requirements or conditions that a minimal amount of money needs to be raised in order for interested donors, businesses, or government agencies to match or give additional funds. An example would be a local businessperson coming to a high school class and challenging the class to raise funds for a local charity saying that for each dollar the class is able to raise, he will give the charity an additional three dollars. Another reason why fundraising is important is that often non-profit organizations are able to purchase goods at reduced cost, helping to make the “dollar go further.” A good example would be Second Harvest Heartland’s fight against hunger. For every dollar donated, Second Harvest Heartland is able to purchase and distribute up to nine dollars worth of food to hunger-relief agencies.
   
   Discuss: As we think about our Penny Drive, how might we be able to maximize the money that we collect? Could finding matching funds help promote our event? Who might be someone we could contact as a possible interested donor, business, or governmental agency?
   
    
8. Read: Organ donation is a possibility for anyone. People of all ages may be organ and tissue donors. In numerical terms, donations from dead donors far outweigh donations by living ones, although it is not uncommon to hear of someone donating a kidney or bone marrow while still living a healthy normal life. Some consider giving blood on a regular basis as a form of “organ donation”, although typically organ donation is considered to be the removal of the human tissue from a person who has recently died, or from a living donor, for the purpose of transplanting or grafting them into other persons. On the reverse side of most state’s drivers’ licenses a person is allowed to indicate whether or not they wish to donate their organs in the event of an untimely death. Often it is necessary that the organs be taken as quickly as possible after death in order for them to be useful as a transplant. As a medical spokesperson speaking on behalf of his state’s Organ Donation program said, “It is a wonderful thing to give of oneself in life and death so that others may live. Whether you’re dropping coins in beggar’s cup, donating to your faith-based organization or some other worthy cause, checking the box on your driver’s license, or stating it in your will, giving the medical profession an opportunity to give life back to someone else, is the opportunity of a lifetime to make a difference in the world.”
   
   Discuss: There are many different way that people can make a contribution. Name some of those you are familiar with. Why might the medical spokesperson spoken of here, say that “it is a wonderful thing to give of oneself in life and death so that others may live”? In what ways might our Penny Drive represent an opportunity to make a difference in the world? Many people donate their money to worthy causes upon their death. Many people donate their money to worthy causes while they are still living. What might be some of the advantages and/or disadvantages to either or both ways of donating?
   
    
9. Read: A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropic acts. That is, someone who donates his or her time, money, or talent to promote a “common good” cause. Diana Campoamor, who heads Hispanics in Philanthropy (HIP), the largest nonprofit organization dedicated to raising money to do big things says, “At the heart of philanthropy, it’s looking outside yourself and seeing that there are people out there who don’t have what you have, who could maybe use some help. It’s a way in which people recognize their connection to each other.” The term philanthropist applies to any volunteer and to anyone who makes a charitable donation, but the label is most often applied to those who donate large sums of money or who make a major impact through their volunteering, such as a trustee who manages a philanthropic organization. Interestingly enough while doing “good”, many philanthropists do not always find universal approval for their deeds. Common accusations include supporting an unjustified or unworthy cause, such as funding art or AIDS research instead of fighting world hunger or rescuing victims of natural disasters. Sometimes they are accused of having selfish motivations at heart, such as avoiding taxes or attaining personal fame.
   
   Discuss: Why is it important that people who hear these types of criticisms not allow these accusations to deter them from doing/making their contributions? How might we respond to someone who chooses not to participate in our Penny Drive event because they feel that the money being raised is going to support an unjustified or unworthy cause?
   
    
10. Read: In a book written by nationally and internationally known golf pro, Harvey Penick, entitled Harvey Penick’s Little Red Book: Lessons and Teachings from a Lifetime in Golf one does not have to read very far into the book to come to the conclusion that to be a great golfer one has to pay attention to the little things. For example the flight of a golf ball struck by a fairway wood is affected by the speed of the swing, the location of the ball hitting the surface of the club face, the wind direction and speed, the composition and curvature of the earth, and the moisture content in the air and on the grass on which the ball lands, and so many other factors some big some small all impact the final destination of the golf ball. Mr. Penick also once said that when all of this detail, as important as it all is, becomes too overwhelming, the best thing to do is just step up to the ball and hit it.
    
    Discuss: As we think of our Penny Drive event what big and/or small things do we have to pay attention to if it’s to be a success? Each of the things that command ones attention to be a successful golfer are pretty small in their own right but add up to a big thing…success! But sometimes we just have to step up to the ball and hit it. How might our dropping a couple of “pretty small” coins in the collection container add up to big things?  How might just stepping up to the ball and hitting it be a good approach for us to take during this event?
    Harvey Penick’s Little Red Book; Lessons and Teachings from a Lifetime of Golf, Harvey Penick with Bud Shrake,Simon & Schuster, 1992.