Kids' philanthropy program awards $9K to local nonprofits

A children's philanthropy initiative originating in the Washington, D.C., area returned to Springfield this year, culminating with a grant presentation yesterday to benefit local nonprofits.

Amy Neugebauer, founder and executive director of The Giving Square, based in Bethesda, Maryland, said $9,000 in grants were presented during the Kids for Kids Celebration held yesterday at Hammons Field. The Giving Square partnered with the Hatch Foundation, Great Southern Bank and the Springfield Cardinals on the effort.

During the grant presentation, $3,000 was awarded to Harmony House, with $2,000 to Child Advocacy Center and $1,000 each to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals at CoxHealth, Isabel's House, Lost & Found Grief Center and Ozarks Food Harvest.

Third- through fifth-grade students at Cowden Elementary, Jeffries Elementary, Horace Mann Elementary, Immaculate Conception, St. Agnes Cathedral School and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton were involved this year, said Neugebauer, noting the kids participated in eight education sessions and selected the nonprofit recipients. Cowden, she said, participated in a separate program that ended with a podcast rather than a grant presentation.

"It's based on evidence that 7- to 13-year-olds are highly empathetic, open minded and have a strong sense of life not being fair," Neugebauer said. "We're kind of validating this lifelong way of being philanthropic."

The Giving Square plans to return to Springfield next year, she said.