2 years ago
NORTHPORT (NEWS CENTER) -- Some charitable groups want to make sure more young people grow up with the desire to give to others. Wednesday, two of Maine's most successful foundations launched a statewide program to train the next generation of donors.
The Unity Foundation and the Maine Community Foundation joined the Unitel Communications Company and a program called Jobs for Maine's Graduates to kick off the project. Larry Sterrs of the Unity Foundation says learning about charity can be most important when the economy is slow.
"I think when times get tough like they are now, the tendency is to hunker down and pull back. And from a non-profit standpoint, this is the time when we should be out there, when we should be doing the very best we can."
Student groups at 61 Maine schools will each be given $1,000 to donate to a local charity of their choosing -- then follow through to see how the money is used and what it does.
Brandon Barrows goes to the Vassalboro Community School.
Brandon commented, "What we planned on is putting an ad in the paper and having people send in like resumes and then we go through 'em and see who would be the best candidate for the thing, whether a business or individual person who needs help."
Jobs for Maine's graduates believes giving has a lot to teach.
"We're looking at our students latching on to this as an effort at creating a lifetime of philanthropic behavior on their part. (They may not become millionaires?) Right, but you don't have to be a millionaire to give to your community."
NEWS CENTER
