News: Piggy Banks for Charity
Ever hear about piggy banks being emptied for a charitable cause? The following news stories not only reveal that everyday are people using money from piggy banks to help others, but they also document people developing a crucial virtue of financial wisdom–sharing:
Milwaukee, WI: Three children–ages 6, 7, and 13–emptied their piggy banks to help pay for a local policedog’s surgery. The canine, named Falko, required leg surgery to remove a bone chip in its right front leg. After the children were told about the dog by their grandmother, they acted on the desire to donate their total piggy banks savings of $11.07 towards the dog’s medical treatment. [news source: jsonline.com, “A dog’s best friends” 6-26-06 by Lawrence Sussman]
Florida: a group called the Sons of Italy raised about $1,500 for the American Cancer Society, and as part of their campaign they used a donation program involving piggy banks. They sold piggy banks to local merchants, who then displayed them in their establishments to collect money for the cancer society. [news source: orlandosentinel.com, “Piggy-bank money fights cancer” 6-25-06 by Linda Florea]
Covina, CA: Ninety-three thousand dollars was raised by the local community for a 7-year old girl with a rare tongue lesion. The rally for helping the girl became so strong in the community that even children were bringing their piggy banks to school to donate their savings. [news source: pasadenastarnews.com, “Well-wishers raise funds to treat girl’s rare lesion” 6-18-06 by Ruby Gonzales]
It is worthwhile to note that when people of any age are inclined to share the money in their piggy banks, they are demonstrating a healthy understanding of finance.
