Don’t you wish you knew it? If you did, wouldn’t you bottle it up and give it to your kids? As parents, we all want our kids to experience joy and happiness. When they smile, we smile. However, research says that today’s kids have a much smaller chance at finding happiness than previous generations. David Myers, a psychologist at Hope College, points out that “compared with their grandparents, today’s young adults have grown up with much more affluence, slightly less happiness, and much greater risk of depression and assorted social pathology.”

Ironically, while happiness levels have been dropping, American affluence has been rising over the last four decades. Robert Kenny, executive director for More than Money, believes that our happiness balance is off. He defines extrinsic goals as acquisition, material possessions, earning praise, status, etc; intrinsic goals are focused on personal growth, building trust, earning respect, strengthening community connections, giving. The key to finding meaning in life is to strike a balance between extrinsic and intrinsic happiness needs. More

TAG Question of the Week

Sesame Street recently aired its primetime special, Growing Hope Against Hunger. This one-hour segment aimed to raise awareness of the epidemic issue of hunger in the United States. If you missed it or your child didn’t make it through the whole hour, check out the short highlight video below.

For those of us who have never gone without, it’s difficult to imagine either not knowing where your next meal will come from or how you’re going to feed your children. Sesame Street addresses the national statistics, but how about right here in South Carolina? More

Thanks to Abacus Planning Group for sharing this modern piggy bank with TAG!

Thinking back on your own childhood … do you remember your piggy bank? It was probably a round pig, with one hole in the top to plink your coins into. Didn’t you just love the way it sounded when the coin hit the bottom? Or how you felt when you shook out all the coins to count them?

So your old piggy bank taught you two lessons: saving and spending. But what about the other crucial pieces of the financial puzzle: investing and sharing? Why not introduce these four concepts at the same time? More

Is your family considering a get-away trip for the holidays, winter break or spring break? Helping others while traveling in different regions and cultures can offer a new perspective and broader understanding of the needs of others in the world. Plus, it’s a rewarding experience you can share together that will enrich your family and create lasting memories.

There are numerous services available that can help you explore both domestic and international options and plan your trip, but before you get started, consider these five tips in ensuring you make the most out of your philanthropic family adventure.  More

Dear Maria,

It’s funny how one little thing leads to another slightly bigger thing and then another, bigger still.

One night in 2005, I sat alone in my bedroom watching a previously recorded Oprah episode. There you were, being interviewed alongside your mother, Eunice Shriver. Enough years have passed that I can’t remember specific details, but you shared a story about growing up in a home in which there were photos of people you never met in your dining room, where conversation centered on how to help those people, who were in need.  More