Last week I wrote about the new trend of giving back on your brithday, and shared how Alyssa Milano was giving away her 37th birthday to raise money and awareness for a clean water initiative. 

Today is Taylor Swift's turn.  I've become a big fan of Taylor Swift's this year...and not because of the Kanye episode.  I appreciate her singing her own songs, and using lyrics that honestly represents her age.  Also, one of my best friend's brother is actually the basist in her band - and he has spoken so highly of her for several years.  Like her music or not, you have to agree she is just a really impressive young gal. 

And this is even more impressive!! Taylor just celebrated her 20th birthday.  No longer a teen, she hosted a big party in her hometown with a Christmas theme.  Even cooler than the party was that she gave $250,000 away to schools in honor of her birthday and in appreciation for the great year she has had.  The money is being used to help pay for books, supplies, even teacher's salaries.  Simply awesome!  She did have a connection to each school she gave $$ to - stating, "something I wanted to do at the end of this amazing year and especially on my birthday was give back to something I really believe in, which is education."  She goes on to share,  "the schools that I went to and the amazing people I got to learn from really turned me into who I am, and I wanted to give back."

Happy Birthday Taylor.  What an amazing year you have had and thanks for remaining humble and helping others! 

Elf Island is the new online video gaming for kids that helps teach positive social and environmental values.   After spending my Saturday afternoon playing it, I have to say that I am now hooked on this empowering game.  The concept of game is that you are an elf and you set out on these missions to do good things and attempt to move up the levels after each successful good deed. 

One example is the “undersea level” where you are under water and have to destroy all of the garbage and pollution that is hurting our oceans.  Not only does this game teach young people about the benefits of social action, but it is fun as well.  Games like this are important for young children because as more and more kids spend time on their computers, it is important for them to be influenced positively. 

Fore more information please visit: http://www.elfisland.com/index.php

(I'm Babette, Kate's sidekick. Every once in a while I get to share my voice and my stories of living a charitable life.  I hope you enjoy!  For more about me, check this out...Five Questions with Babette.)

I get excited whenever I find a story about a young person making a difference in the world, whether in their own community or around the globe.  So, when I found this story of a classroom of young kids working together to help others, I got very excited.

This story is also inspirational because the person leading the charge is a teacher.  A priceless educator going beyond the call of duty to teach an important life lesson of the important of helping others in need. 

Melissa McIlwain a kindergarten teacher at Pecan Park in Ocean Springs, MS decided to get her students involved in a volunteer project when one of her co-workers became stricken with breast cancer.  McIlwain and her students spent an entire day making blankets to donate to cancer patients at Singing River Regional Cancer Center.  With the students giving back and feeling first hand the positive impact they were having on others, they are more likely to continue to do such work throughout their life. 

Reading, Math, Writing, Science are all very important learnings for our youth...but so is compassion to help others!

Enjoy this video courtesy of WLOX 13 to learn how these kids are discovering the gift of giving to others.

Check out 11-year-old Amiya Alexander from Detroit, Michigan.  At the age of nine...yes, nine, she started her own mobile dance academy (AMDA).   By retro-fitting an old school bus into a dance studio, she created a space to help give kids the opportunity to learn the art of dance through which they build self-confidence and live healthier lifestyles.  Amiya focuses on under privileged children, with the goal of promoting healthy living through dancing.  She even teaches the classes herself.  An impressive young person helping the world one pirouette at a time. Check out the video below.

For more information about her Mobile Dance School Academy please visit: http://www.amiyasdancebus.com/aboutamiya.htm