Questions!!! ^.^

Our final decision was to give the money to two organization. We decided on SAY San Diego, as well as Promise 2 Kids. We decided to give more to SAY San Diego because one of our team members has had a personal experience with it, and says it is a really good choice.

I believe the overall experience was a great one. Working as a team with individuals that share the same interests as you is always a great thing. In my group I didn't quite talk to all of them before hand like many other teams. However, after this entire experience I have become close to them. I actually got to know them, and learned some interesting things about them. ☺

For next weeks check delivery experience I think it will be breathtaking. To know after all your hard work you get to actually see the results. You can see the look on their faces of how happy they are due to our choosing them. But not only because we chose them ourselves, they helped us make the choice by being a wonderful organization.

Interview☺☻

This week we had to interview a family member, mentor, or friend about their lives with the questions listed in week 5. I chose to interview my mother.

I chose to interview her because I have heard stories from when she was growing up and learned that my life is very different from hers. I wanted to get more into detail about her childhood, growing up with 13 brothers and sisters, always moving. It is so different from when my siblings and I were growing up I wanted to compare the two.

My mother grew up in the projects. When hearing this I think of how you view the projects now, but she says it is the complete opposite. She said it was more family friendly and she met a lot of people from there. Played with a lot of the neighborhood kids. I always thought she grew up in a house, one single house not multiple places.

What I learned from the interview was that my mom has truly gone through many things during her life. More then what these questions could have answered. Sure I learned some financial tips and how to donate to organizations, but I also learned of how much she went through as a child. And how I wish that no other child has to struggle the way her family did. It really help me to go deeper into my cause, I am now thinking of joining a summer program that works with children.

Research

This week we are learning how to properly look into investing in a company or organization of our choice. We have a few organizations that we are interested in.

This is one of the few organizations we are interested into investing in. I remember driving by this organization and never really knowing what exactly they did. Just that they help teen youth/younger children.

Another organization we are looking into is Polinsky Children Center. It is actually very interesting because an actual member of our group was actually a child who was involved with them when she was growing up. She decided to really focus on this group for her organization research.

It is actually been a very stressful time trying to find information on the organization. Not because they have not been helpful, but because remembering to call or checking my emails have been my main concern. Also trying to figure out the information for the tax information is quite difficult for me to understand. I think I need to take a little extra time to figure this out.

Organizations

Unfortunately, the organization I wanted to work with is unable to use us until we are 18 years old. I wanted our group to be apart of the team for the NICU. But in order to even get to look around the hospital like a shadow day we would need to be 18, as well as having to have our shot records all up to date. Hopefully other members of our team found an organization, and we will have better luck.

It is very important to look at an organizations past numbers because you can then see if they have been a reliable company. As well as where all their finances went, and are going.

Brown Bag Experience ☺

This week we completed an activity called "Brown Paper Bag". We were supposed to bring in three items that have some type of meaning to us. The first item I brought was a pillow.

The pillow represented my friends  since they made it for me as a birthday present. I really am grateful for having them in my life.

The next item I brought was a photo of my parents. They have been a huge impact on my life. I don't know what kind of person I would have ended up had they not raise me and take care of me. 

The final item I put into my brown paper bag was a photo of my brother and I. This represented how I am closest with him out of all my siblings. He has had a great affect on me during my life growing up, and has always been fair and true to me. He is the best brother any sister could ask for.

I believe when creating our mission, vision, and purpose statement was very effective. We will soon be contacting the organizations, which is going to be very exciting. I think by us contacting the organization will help us add to our skills of communicating with future acquaintances.

MAD Experience♥

After doing the MAD activity I've realized all the cards I picked had to do with helping someone one-on-one. I already knew that I loved to help others, but after to day it was more toward children. Now I see that I actually might want to look into jobs that work with children more than with adults. I like to help everyone, but for some reason I have more patients, and connect more with children.

I also learned a lot about my partner. I did not realize that she was very into religion and art. I knew she was catholic, I just did not realize she had a close relationship with god. I also to my surprise realized she really loves art. She believes any form of art is the perfect way to express yourself in a healthy manner.

What I hope to gain from participating in the Main Street Philanthropy Program is not only the accomplishing feeling of helping someone, but many doors opening. My mentor always says,"its not about what you know but who you know".I believe after completing this program I will meet many people who could help me in the future, as well as I could help them. Ultimately, I am very excited. :)