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Unpublished

Providing a Helping Hand
  1. Strand PHIL.I Definitions of Philanthropy
    1. Standard DP 05. Role of Foundations
      1. Benchmark E.3 Name a corporation or business that has contributed money for the common good.
  2. Strand PHIL.II Philanthropy and Civil Society
    1. Standard PCS 07. Skills of Civic Engagement
      1. Benchmark E.4 Analyze information to differentiate fact from opinion based on the investigation of issues related to the common good.

This lesson will describe the contributions/sponsorship that businesses/corporations make for the common good.

Duration: 
PrintOne Forty-Five Minute Class Period
Objectives: 

The learner will:

  • describe how a corporate sponsor helps communities.
  • chart how corporate funds are spent for the common good.
Materials: 
  • Internet access
  • Transparency of A Piece of Corporation Philanthropy Pie (Handout One)
  • Overhead Projector and transparency markers
  • A Piece of Corporation Philanthropy Pie (Handout One)
  • A Little PSA (Handout Two)
  • Pepsico and Social Responsibility(Handout Three)
  • Providing a Helping Hand (Handout Four)
  • Word cards: public good, public service, philanthropy, society, economics, percentage, graph, annual report, public service announcement, public television
Home Connection: 

Keep track of public service announcements on television or radio for three days on A Little PSA (Handout Two) or keep a chart of times when you have observed someone providing a "helping hand." Use Providing a Helping Hand (Handout Four) for this activity.

Bibliography: 
Instructions: 
Print

  1. Explain that consumers pay corporations for their services or products. Therefore, corporations have an obligation/commitment to inform and create a sense of well being for members of society. Using the word cards, explain:

    • public service to perform a deed that contributes to the general welfare of all.
    • philanthropy the giving of one's time, talent or treasure for the sake of another- or for the common good of society.
    • public service announcement (PSA) a free message or announcement to inform or educate the public. A "PSA" can be donated by a radio or TV station or it can be paid for by a company or corporation in the interest of public information.
    • public television public television is non-commercial television. A basic difference between public and commercial television is the focus on the type of programming that public television produces: educational, children's, music, drama, nature and science. Public television stations must buy their programs. Since public television stations cannot generate revenues from advertisers, they must depend on local businesses and individuals to help purchase or produce programs.

  2. What are some ways that corporations can give back to the community? Why should they give back? Would people notice if they didn't give back? Why or why not?

  3. Assign reading partners to read one paragraph of Pepsico and Social Responsibility (Handout Three). Provide highlighters to mark key words and concepts. Explain that each group should read and discuss what the main idea could be for that paragraph or section. (Time: ten minutes) When the class has reconvened, select one student to take notes on the chart paper as each group shares a key point from its paragraph. Assign one student to use a calculator and keep a running total of the dollar amounts mentioned in the article. Put the total amount at the end of the chart. The chart paper should be displayed in a prominent place for all to see. (Teacher Note: This allows all students to have a summary with the figures to use for the pie graph without the responsibility of reading the entire article.)

  4. Give each student A Piece of Corporation Philanthropy Pie (Handout One). Ask, "Does this company give back to the community?" Point out examples using the chart paper summary. Demonstrate, using a transparency of A Piece of Corporation Philanthropy Pie, how to divide and fill in the chart using the funding information from the annual report as recorded on the class chart. Do one or two pieces of the pie together and then assign the students to complete it on their own, as well as writing the paragraph.

Assessment: 

The pie chart and paragraph on the back of the chart will serve as the assessment.