TAG Question of the Week

Family traditions. If ever a time there was to reflect on them, it’s now. Perhaps your holiday customs have been in practice for generations, or maybe they’ve evolved over time to be what they are today.  Traditions are reflective of who we are and what has been instilled in us. Our heritage of ideals can be found at the foundation of our traditions and there are precious family values to be learned and passed on as we rear the next generation – not just during the holidays but throughout the year. More

Happy Hanukkah, everyone! Tonight we celebrate the second night of the Festival of Lights, an eight-day celebration commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. Each night a candle is lit and a series of rituals are performed. Special meals are prepared and in many families, particularly in North America and Israel, gifts are exchanged.

As we celebrate this ancient Hebrew celebration, we couldn’t help but take a closer look at a very special aspect not only of Hanukkah but of Judaism: Tzedakah. More

For many, the holiday season represents a time of giving – giving gifts, giving thanks and giving back. Perhaps this year, as you’ve plinked through your shopping list of goodies and threatened your children with coal and switches, you’ve wondered how your family could do more for others and how you can offer your children a lesson about the needs of your community.

Too stressed to fit it in or worried it’s too late? Well, think again.  There are lots of simple things you and your family can do to help make the holidays happier for those in need in our community*.  More

TAG Question of the Week

Every so often, we come across a story or statistics specific to the Midlands that just stop us in our tracks. A moment such as this occurred last Sunday when we read this disturbing article in The State regarding poverty in Richland and Lexington Counties. While the article in its entirety is saddening and surprising, what really took us aback were the statistics regarding children right here in our backyard. If you missed the article, we’re sorry to be the one to tell you that about 25 percent of the children attending schools in Richland 1, Lexington 2, 3 and 4 districts live below poverty. Ouch. This reminded of us of another article published this summer that indicated every school in Richland 1 has at least one homeless student. More

At Talk About Giving, we read a lot. We research, follow blogs and keep up with news on a variety of subjects that have to do with philanthropy, children and families. While reviewing our notes and considering the upcoming holiday season we realized that over the past year, we’ve come across some really neat items that might be the perfect presents for your little – or not so little – philanthropists.

Gifts that educate and inspire giving. What could be better? So here are some of our favorites. If you have others, we’d LOVE to hear about them!

Happy Giving! More