The Cincinnati Enquirer from Cincinnati, Ohio • Page A3

OHIO THE ENQUIRER 2014 A3 Awave of shame rolled over Beth Nowakas she stared at the items in er shopping cart. er church had encouraged its embers to buy fixings for two Thanksgiving dinners, one for their own family and one for a family in need. At first, the Park Hills mother of twowas filled with pride as she strolled through the grocery store, unning into other members completing the same task. Just as I was thinking how wonderful it was, what we were doing, I realized I was buying different items for my family than I was for the oth- family; buying (generic) brands to donate and (name brands) for owak said. of my pride immediately turned to shame.

Why did I think that that was OK that I would serve something different to somebody in their home than I would serve them if they were in my Nowak retraced her steps, placing he items back on the shelves, until she had identical items for each dinner. The revelation continued to haunt the Wyomingkindergarten teacher a nd mother of two as she realized never really been taught to give. How could she be more pur- oseful, she wondered, and teach her children and students about compassion, charity, community? She began searching for ideas to instill those things in kids, but she found few resources. She felt a strong urge to create that resource herself a place online here families could get ideas for activities to do together. With her support, Nowak decided to go out on a limb: She quit her job and uilt a social enterprise she calls Giving Families.

ith 400 families registered, the Colerain Townshipnative hopes to build a movement across the country. also have to be espectful of the Being a kindergarten teacher for 12 yearswas sort of like being in the movie Nowak jokes. Every year a new crop of 5- and 6-year-olds walks in, and discerning teachers learn something new. And notice some trends. As a parent you see them through all the stages, but as a teacher it was consistent, (the kids were) so sweet, so loving, so helpful, so Nowak said.

he also noticed, through the ears, that her kids seemed to carry more stress created by test anxiety a nd busy schedules and had more proclivity to feeling entitled and to being a bully, is the result of children not having the ability to be compassionate and empathetic toward one Novak said. Keeping that in mind, Nowak began to pose simple challenges each onth on her website, www.givingfamilies.com.In November she invited families to go door-to- door in their neighborhoods, asking for food to take to a food pantry of heir choice. Last month she encouraged families to buy chocolates to give to the children living at a nearby homeless shelter to give to their moms for Day. Some parents might think their hild needs to see the homeless mother open and eat the chocolate to get i but I need to parade a homeless mother around my child for her to know this is a worthwhile Nowak adds. also have to be respectful of the recipients.

alesson, Shannon Kurtznerhas three children and heard about Giving Families hen Nowak pitched the website to the Fort Wright Area Club. and more importantly, kindness are two lessons that are ery hard to teach as a urtzner said, who likes Giving Fami lies challenges because they are engaging and appropriate for children of all ages, including her kids, ages 1, 2 and 4. Some parents think, start hat when eight; when they et it Kurtzner said. think that might be too Her kids now associate the activities as part of their lives. something that Giving Families gave us, making it part of ur Kurtzner said.

Site also helps teach kids financial responsibility Nowak also wanted to encourage a parenting trend known as save, pend, give which teaches children to budget and be philanthropic with heir money usually with allowance money. So another feature of her website allows families to purchase credits, say, $10 worth, and then give those credits to local charities. Right now members have an option to donate to the Cincinnati Zoo, The Cure Starts ow, Monkey in My Chair, the Cincinnati Museum Center or Findlay Market. They can also gift credits to someone, maybe a niece or nephew or randchild. urtzner has started giving credits as birthday presents.

he website provides links to literary resources for parents and teachers. This challenge is to build a lemonade stand and send the proceeds to an organization that raises money for pediatric cancer. more children that have op- ortunities like this, the better off the future of our world will Nowak said. Teaching children about compassion Andy and Beth Nowak, with their children, Harper and Frank, build a lemonade stand to raise funds for pediatric cancer research. THE ROSSMANN CARRIE BLACKMORE SMITH Idig up the news and stories begging to told in Kenton and Campbell counties.

Find me at HONORED Park Hills resident and mother of two Beth Nowak recently received recognition for her social enterprise called Giving Families, including an Honorable Mention from Stanford Center for Compassion and Altruism Researchand Education and aGirl Scouts Alumnae of Excellence Award. IN HER ORDS Find a link to Beth presentationat Cincinnati.com. CALL FOR FREE CONSULTATION OFF $250 FREE ACCESSORIES EXPIRES SOME RESTRICTIONS APPLY IMAGINE YOUR ORGANIZED! CALL 513-457-4465 or CLICK www.closetsbydesign.com www.CETconnect.org Support the one place that never stops asking CE-0000596218.