Giving Compass' Take:

• Town & Country interviewed Lin-Manuel Miranda and his family, discussing how the spirit of social activism and charity has been passed down through the generations, continuing to this day with the success of Hamilton.

• What can we learn about family philanthropy from the Mirandas? What lessons are we teaching the next generation when it comes to engaging with the world around them and making a difference?

• Here's how Lin-Manuel Miranda uses theater to deliver a message about diversity.

I first met the Mirandas in 2004, when I began collaborating with Lin-Manuel on the Broadway-bound musical In the Heights. Recently I sat down with the entire family — Luz and Luis, their children Lin-Manuel and Luz, and their spouses Vanessa and Luis — at their home in Upper Manhattan to discuss how the idea of giving back has become central to their identities. They have been a philanthropic force for years, but thanks to the success of Lin-Manuel’s musical theater sensation Hamilton, the family has seen its philanthropic mission grow exponentially, and now they’re raising the next generation of Mirandas to continue their work.

For the second generation, is there a connection between the generous energy that your parents have with their community engagement and your own creative generosity?

LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA: I think the relentlessness is our birthright. My sister and I have talked about this a lot. One of the things that we both had trouble with in high school, when it came to relating to our fellow adolescents, was the notion of hanging out. That was not a thing we were good at. It was, like, So we’re just gonna sit here? I think, because our parents were so active all the time, that felt somehow like cheating.

Do you have to truly believe in a cause to get involved with it?

LUIS MIRANDA: You need to believe in the cause enough that you’re going ask others for resources. If you don’t believe in a cause, it’s very, very difficult. I learned a long time ago that you give until it hurts. If you’re not making sacrifices, you’re not giving enough. We will never ask someone to give time, resources, contacts, or money if we’re not willing to do it ourselves.

Read the full article about family philanthropy through the eyes of the Mirandas by Oprah Winfrey and Quiara Alegria Hudes at Town & Country.