As a Canadian, it’s wonderful to see people I know or meet through social media are doing fantastic jobs.  Craig Kielburge, Co-Founder of Free the Children, is one of first few people got to Haiti shortly after the disaster.  12for12k, a charity aims to combine social media awareness and fund-raising to change the lives of millions worldwide, started by Danny Brown, has already raised over $6,000.   Every time I watch the news, hear it on radio or see the pictures, I still reach down to my pocket and see how I can help.  It feels good and proud to know real people do care, for those in need.

Last week, I heard there are several elementary schools in my area (Mississauga, Brampton and Oakville) that has set prizes for specific amount of donation.  For example, donate $20 get stickers, donate $50 get a recorder, whole class donate over $150 will have pizza party.  In my opinion as a parent, I think this is so fundamentally wrong.  Setting the goal is fine but the motivation has got skewed during the process.  Think about kids coming home and telling you to donate $20 so s/he can get stickers?  One parent even asked me, “It’s for good cause, what’s the difference of those celebrity or people donate millions of dollars?”   My response?  They can decide how much they are willing to donate for whatever reasons (good cause, tax saving, or fame, yeah, I know I’ll get slap for saying it) but for our children, we need to teach them about compassion, how to help the needs and give back to community, and every penny counts, definitely not for prizes.

Certainly this is not the reason why schools encourage donation  but unfortunately the messages got twisted during the communication.  I’m just glad the school my girls go to didn’t ask donation this way, and both girls proudly gave money out from their piggy banks knowing got nothing in return except sense of accomplishment.

Do you agree?  What was the message your child(ren) bring home about donation?  Keep my fingers crossed the three cases I heard are the odds.