At age 12, I remember my first volunteer experience visiting a long-term senior care facility with my student council group. We went from room to room singing holiday carols. One woman was confined to her bed and she couldn’t talk. When we began singing, tears rolled down her cheeks and a smile spread across her face. Our teachers shared how meaningful our visit was to her and many others that day. It ignited my interest and eventual career path in giving back.
Experiences like this shape who we are and who we will become. While empathy may be innate, philanthropy and volunteering are learned behaviors.
My son is now 12 years old. Since he was little, I’ve tried to teach him kindness and generosity through volunteering and giving activities. Every year, he helps me choose which nonprofits we’ll donate to. We talk about the missions of these organizations and why their work is important. As a nonprofit professional, I’ve brought him with me to a variety of volunteer opportunities and nonprofit events.
With over 4,000 charitable organizations in the Madison region, there are many volunteer programs that children can participate in. There are also simple things that can be done at home: baking cookies for neighbors or food pantries, donating clothes or toys to local schools or shelters, and shoveling the sidewalk for an older neighbor.
My hope for my son and the next generation is that they will create a kinder, better world by engaging in experiences at an early age that teach them to think beyond their own lives and challenges, to care for others and to invest in the wellbeing of their communities.
– Amanda White, principal and lead consultant, Amanda White Consulting
Read more from our May/June 2025 feature on mother-daughter bonds here.
