Giving Compass' Take:

• Phil Hanson writes about the Youth Advisory Council at the Truman Heartland Community Foundation which teaches students and the youth in Kansas City about the importance of philanthropy and outreach in their communities. 

• How can families use these methods at home to teach their children philanthropy? How is this program impacting and inspiring others?

• Here's an article on teaching students to give back. 

On April 6, students in the Youth Advisory Council (YAC) of Truman Heartland Community Foundation were once again out doing their part to feed the hungry in our community. Students from the 13 participating high schools were at four Hy-Vee locations in Eastern Jackson County from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Through their efforts and the generosity of people in our community, we estimate that our YAC students collected more than 40,000 food items and personal hygiene items for Community Services League, Lee’s Summit Social Services and Raytown Emergency Assistance Program.

We are very proud of the students in our YAC program, one of the only opportunities for high school students from across the region to come together to work as a team to benefit the community. Most any other time students from different high schools come together it’s about competition not community building.

Students see the value in this program, and membership continues to grow. Starting with just 12 students in 1998, it has grown to nearly 190 participants this year. We are grateful to Henri Goettel, the YAC volunteer adult facilitator, who has led this program since its inception. Goettel is a great mentor for our students, and it is clearly a labor of love.

Read the full article about teaching our youth philanthropy by Phil Hanson at The Kansas City Star.