family | Victor Jung | Philanthropy

There are many nonprofit organizations available to help supplement the educational system in the United States. Whether these organizations are geared towards teachers, students, parents, or all of the above, their support often bridges gaps that would otherwise linger between educators, schools, and families. Here are three great nonprofits that are making a real difference in today’s education system.

The Association of American Educators

This organization’s mission is to provide support to the teacher of the country. They do this through programs such as teacher scholarships and grants, liability insurance, member discounts on supplies, tuition discounts, and more. They also advocate on behalf of educators for their rights and for improvements in their careers and classrooms.

This organization seeks to reduce or eliminate strikes and boycotts, which, in the end, negatively affects students more than anyone. They do this by attempting to provide the essentials that educators need (such as supplemental insurance, for example) that they may not be getting from their jobs. By keeping educators happy, peace and balance is maintained within the education system.

Help 4 Kids

This is a small organization located in Florence, South Carolina whose mission is to make sure that underprivileged elementary school students don’t go hungry during weekends. In coordination with local schools and administrators, this organization provides a bag of food to these students in need on Fridays before they go home.

Help 4 Kids is fairly new, having been in operation since 2013. It was inspired by their other chapter Help 4 Kids in Horry County, South Carolina. As the organization continues to be successful, hopes are that the chain will continue to grow and open even more chapters throughout several other communities in the country.

National Parent Teacher Association (PTA)

This 120-year-old organization has accomplished thousands of amazing feats for children. Some of which include creating the National School Lunch Program, pushing for teacher pay raises, rounding up resources for financially-challenged schools so they can keep up with modern education, and so much more. In fact, there is almost nothing that this organization doesn’t do to help parents, teachers, and students.

The PTA is comprised of over 4 million members. This includes teachers, parents, students, other family members of students, foster parents–basically anyone involved in students lives and education. Their mission statement is “to make every child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children.”

Many people view summer vacation as a time to get away from all of their responsibilities, and enjoy themselves in their favorite location in the world. Though the idea of spending time alone can be alluring to some, spending time with one’s family is actually scientifically proven to be more fulfilling, and much more enjoyable.

Vacations are perfect opportunities for parents to bond with their children, and give them the invaluable gift of time spent together. Aside from the joys of playing on the beach and sharing laughter together, these types of interactions are known as “attachment play,” and is vital for emotional growth in children. Essentially, you as a parent are giving your children your undivided attention, which they understand as you reveling in every second you spend together. This effectively builds their self esteem.

Almost every parent understands just how important and beneficial spending time with their kids is, but few may know that taking them on vacation can actually enhance their brain development. Time spent with your children outside of home can exercise two areas of their brains that react to playing and visual stimulation. For example, giving your a child piggyback ride stimulates the “play” area, while taking them on a hike to experience nature and see animals and plantlife stimulates the visual area. Doing both can reduce stress levels in children, and allow them to relax in terms of emotions, unlike the experiences they have at home, where much less mental stimulation tends to take place. As parents begin to relax, so do their children.

By taking your children on vacation with you, you are also exercising their explorative nature, which is essential for going on to live a rich, fulfilling life. This creates a drive within them that, when applied to the working world, can set them up for a great deal of success. It also improves their social skills, concentration, and cognitive abilities.

Though studies are still being conducted, many researchers believe there could be a connection between vacations and higher IQ’s in children. Because of the cognitive benefits that come with taking your children on holiday, there is a theory that their levels of intelligence are increased accordingly. Exposing children to new and exciting environments can trigger several areas of the brain, exercising them not unlike muscles in the body. The frontal lobe is enhanced through this stimulation, which can improve one’s stress regulation, concentration, and ability to learn.

No matter where you and your family are traveling in the world, the benefits that both you and your children experience are endless. While their young minds are being positively molded through unique experiences and bonding with their parents, they are also creating memories that will last a lifetime.

Victor Jung is a committed philanthropist from New York City

Tag: family

Educational Nonprofits for Families and Teachers

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