Now more than ever volunteerism is what’s driving positive change in our communities – and so much of that change is being driven by KIDS! The fourth annual ‘Clifford BE BIG in Your Community’ national contest just launched and is designed to inspire service. The contest invites kids of all ages, teachers, parents and community leaders to submit proposals that demonstrate how Clifford’s BIG Ideas can make the world a better place.
What are Clifford’s BIG Ideas? Share, Help Others, Be Kind, Be Responsible, Play Fair, Be a Good Friend, Believe in Yourself, Have Respect, Work Together and Be Truthful.
A recent research report called, “It Starts With Character: Inspiring Kids and Teens to Volunteer,” found that kids and teens who have more exposure to character-building skills (like Clifford’s BIG Ideas listed above), are more likely to volunteer in their communities, and more often! In addition, parents and teachers say that media (TV, film, books, magazines, games, apps and Internet) can play an important role in communicating the value of character education.
This report reinforces how important it is to have programs like BE BIG. We need to encourage kids to discover their power to make a difference in their communities.
Do you have a great idea to make the world a better place? Do your children? Submit ideas now to vie for the chance to win up to $10,000 in community grants.
Looking for ways to get involved in your community? Click here to find local opportunities.
The study was commissioned by Scholastic Media, a division of Scholastic Inc., the global children’s publishing, education and media company and HandsOn Network, the volunteer enterprise of Points of Light. For more information about youth making their mark on the world, visit generationOn, the youth activation division of Points of Light.