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Show America’s Children Give a healthy startin life. Companies such as “We're too rich a nation to say we can’t afford to provide health care to every child.” ‘Stuart Zolovorow LensCrafters are helping by providing lasses and medical _ Services, including free eye exams, to needy youngsters. Provide a safe place for kids to learn and grow. out to teens who have come to shoot hoops during “open gym” time at ips the YMCA in Silver Spring, Md. health-care and vision-care providers and pharmaceutical companies. SmithKline Beechamis contributing nearly $3 million to support health initiatives aimedat kids. LensCrafters is providing free eye examsand glassesto a mil. lion persons, especially children. These | are just a few of the many Nonprofit institutions across the U.S. are seeking adults commitments thatthe nation’s —and young people—willing to reach out to America’s corporations have made to children. These are among the many that need you: America’s young people. @ America’s Promise (www.americaspromise.org; Fourth, every child needs 1-888-559-6884). Provide your ZIP code and learn a marketable skills in today's wealth of ways to help youths in your own community. highly competitive, informa1 Camp Fire Boys and Girls (www.campfire.org; +-800tion-based economy. Business 669-6884) provides opportunities in community service, youth leadership and camping programs. leaders already recognize that Wi Nati is hip (www.mentoring they won't hi ugh skilled org; 1-888-432-6368) provides resources for adults workers tomorrow unless they who want to mentor young peoplein their area. invest in young people now. So the Oracle Corp., for example, has launched a $100 million adults as mentors for its Black Achievers program. initiative to provide Want to know more? Tofind volunteer opportunities and training for budgetin your area, visit SERVEnet, the Youth Service America Web strapped schools. Called Orasite at: http://www.servenet.org or use your :CueCat reader to swipe the following cue: cle’s Promise,the initiative has provided more than 7000 network computers to nearly 200 schools and trained more than 1500 teachers. Other high- tech companies are making similar commitments. So are trade groups,including the American Hotel & Motel Association and the American Bankers Association, which provide tutoring, vocational guidance and internships to youngsters in need. Finally, everychild needs to give back. We must encourage youngsters to serve the society that has given them so much. Learningto help others should be a part of everyone’s growing-up. Educators across America should be encouraged to make community service an integral part of high schoolandcollege curricula. A willingness to helpis a virtue that will serve young people throughouttheir entire lives. These, then, are the greatest gifts we can give our children, and they’re not limited to any particular season: The needis always present and acute. So reach out now andgivea giftthat will neverlose its value. Wouldn't it be great if America were to begin the New Year with a resolution that no child will be deniedthegifts that really count? I How you can get involved *CAWN PARADE MAGAZINE - DECEMBER 24, 2000 - PAGE 5 Instill the value of community service. Camp Fire Boys and Girls—like these youngsters from the Washington, D.C., area—have reached more than 100,000 people in need over the past three years through various service projects. |
