Generosity

= "Never measure your generosity by what you give, but by what you have left." Bishop Fulton Sheen =

Matthew Kelly indicates that the third sign of a Dynamic Catholic is Generosity. Here's why:
 * The happiest people I know are also the most generous people I know. God is generous, and generosity is at the heart of the Christian life.
 * Generosity begins with gratitude. Dynamic Catholics live in a state of gratitude. They have an overwhelming sense that their lives have been blessed.
 * When we speak about generosity at church we usually do so in the context of stewardship, and we talk about three categories: time, talent, and treasure. Stewardship is the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care. As Christians, we are taught that our time, talent, and treasure are all on loan to us- and that one day we will have to account for the way we managed them.
 * Generosity is a trademark of Dynamic Catholics. They have not just a spirit of generosity, but a spirituality of generosity that reaches deep into every corner of their lives. Generosity is central to their value system, and they often think in terms of how they can do the most good with what they have at their disposal.
 * Establish giving goals.

Students will work in four key areas to develop their spirit of generosity:

 * 1) Goal Setting-students develop and monitor goals related to Prayer, Study, Generosity (time, talent, and treasure), and Evangelization.
 * 2) Fasting- students are encouraged to choose something to fast from on Fridays to commemorate the life Jesus gave for us.
 * 3) Power Hours- students are asked to prayerfully commit to serving others 12 hours each trimester. "True Power" Service Opportunities [[file:Power Hour Tracker.pdf|Power Hour Form]]
 * 4) Designing their own Service Projects- 7th and 8th graders create, promote, and facilitate a meaningful service project during the year.

      

Writing a Press Release  

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Justice Resources <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Websites to help you generate ideas for service projects: <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">__Do Something__ <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Great site to help students develop service ideas.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">__One World Youth Project__ <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Organization pairs up students from across the world.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">International Youth Foundation <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Programs focus on positive health, technology training, and leadership.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">__Learn and Serve__ <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">US government website to help provide ideas for service projects.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">__Free the Children__ <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Features ideas on how to education and empower youth from around the world.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">__Global Youth Action Network__ <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Largest youth-led organization on the planet.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">__Taking IT Global__ <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Youth using technology to promote positive change.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">__Youth Venture__ <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Helps teams of people start new youth-led organizations.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">__YouthNoise__ <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Online youth community that offers young people a chance to speak out and take action on many issues.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">__National Youth Leadership Council__ <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Brings together the service learning field at the National Service-Learning Conference with demonstrations and resources for service projects.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">__Youth Service America__ <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Offers support for youth-led service projects.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">__World Assembly of Youth__ <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Global network connects national youth organizations.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">__Peace Child International__ <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Empowers young people to work for peace, human rights, and environmental initiatives.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">__Catholic Relief Services__ <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">International Catholic Relief organization has numerous projects to support.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">__Catholic Charities__ <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Catholic organization that provides for the needs of Americans.