Scholarship Essay: Why I Give Back To My Community

I was born into an upper-middle class white family from a quaint beach community in San Diego. My education has never been hindered by issues of safety or an insufficient money supply. I have always known when my next meal will be, and I’ve always been supported in my goals. The capital within my hometown community as well as the social forces of my race and wealth have assisted me in my available opportunities. Because of my privileged upbringing, I had large amounts of time (because I did not have to work to support my family) and excess wealth (money that didn’t need to be spent on necessities) that I was able to use to give back. I do not believe that one needs to come from a privileged background in order to be philanthropic, however my specific upbringing has shaped the

My parents instilled in me from a very young age the importance of giving back to my community. My schools, my church and my clubs I was a part of growing up all participated in philanthropic acts such as jog-a-thons, bake sales, auctions or other fundraising activities to raise money for charities. I learned fairly young that the opportunities that I was provided with were rare. Even though I had few experiences as a child with the poverty I was working towards reducing, I was taught to be thankful for what I have and to use my circumstances to give towards those who grew up with less freedoms than me. One way that I participated in philanthropy in my family was through an organization called MADCAPS, which stands for Mothers And Daughters Club Assisting Philanthropies Society. MADCAPS is a 6 year commitment, from 7th to 12th grade, that combined dance and philanthropy. Even though it was just my mother and I involved, it was a tradition for my brothers