TEENS SQUEEZE CHARITABLE WORK INTO SCHEDULES

Is philanthropy helping an old lady across the street? Is it being an aide at a Girl Scout camp? Or is it sitting behind a desk deciding whose program deserves more money?

According to four teens involved in various charities, philanthropy is all of these things.

"There's more to it than just giving land or property or creating some type of endowment. It's about a personal extension of yourself and the character which you possess," said Ryan Neal, 18, a senior at Park Tudor School.

Y-Press recently talked with Ryan and other members of the Indiana Youth Commission for Service and Leadership, a government organization that promotes youth involvement in leadership and philanthropy. Joining Ryan in a conversation about personal philanthropy were three other seniors: Whitney Nolton, 18, Cathedral High School; Billy Grover, 18, New Albany High School; and Rebecca Wilson, 18, Plainfield High School.

Daily activities

Ryan: "I'm student council president at school, so usually my day is kind of hectic. . . . Then after school, depends. I might go to Coburn Place to volunteer, or I might go home. I have to go to dance practice. NAACP Youth Council sometimes takes a lot of time."

Whitney: "I have to wake up early because I live farther away from my school, but when I get there, usually I have an ACTS meeting; it's A Chance To Serve, and we do philanthropic stuff, like we go out and we feed the hungry and stuff like that. . . .

"I'm in Youth as Resources, and I am in that in Hancock County . . . . I also help with the United Way."

Billy: "I'm also senior class president, student council president . . . . I'm also the chair of our managed advisory council in New Albany -- it's a service and leadership development group. I'm also the director of the Youth Development Services for Interfaith Council in New Albany. And that basically entails me serving on 35 different boards, and just being like the youth voice on that board."

Rebecca: "I am always in school early 'cause I'm in student council, FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes). Key Club I'm really active in. I'm also on the School at Work committee, so usually I'm in that once a month during the school day. I'm the only youth on that. And then I'm also on the Ruth Lilly Health Education Youth Advisory Council."

Commitment

Whitney: "My friends understand that some things come before others. They know my philanthropic work comes before going to see a movie or going to the mall.

Rebecca: "I haven't had to give up too much, except for sleep. . . . I had to give up drama . . . and I can't go to my youth group . . . but I make sure I show up every Sunday. . . . My family is really encouraging."

Billy: "My parents have been the voice of reality as far as saying, 'Do you really need something else to take on?' "

Ryan: "I've had to give up playing sports a lot."

Rewards

Whitney: "Rewards . . . come in the smiles, or the handshakes, or the kids laughing. . . . The reward is just love and happiness."

Rebecca: "The reward is looking into somebody's eyes and seeing the shock and amazement."

Billy: "I think my greatest reward so far in philanthropy has been seeing so many other youth come into (the field) . . . Personally a reward right now has been that a lot of the work I've done has translated into scholarships for college."

Ryan: "It makes you feel good. The reward is knowing that you've done something right, and that it's going to mean something later on."

REPORTER: Perry McKinley, 12.