Basic economics tells us how important receiving a quality education is for bettering ourselves and the future of our children. Education enables upward socioeconomic mobility and is key to escaping poverty. It is also essential for empowering people globally to live more healthy and sustainable lives.
On a large scale, there are many major corporations who support fostering a better future through education. For instance, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife founded the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative with the goal of helping today’s children learn at the greatest possible rate, and you’d be hard pressed to find anyone who hasn’t heard of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which focuses on strengthening K-12 education in the United States.
On an equally important but smaller scale, local organizations and individuals are also doing their part to give back to causes that support education. Case in point, Luis Perez mentors at his alma mater, Southwest Community Campus in Michigan.
“By becoming a mentor, I feel I’m making a difference in someone else with the hopes that they one day can also give to others. For me, education is one of the topics I deeply care about, so becoming a mentor of an elementary student has been perfect. They’re learning new things, and this is a good age to start having aspirations in life,” says Perez.
In Chicago, executive Thomas Kane supports causes that help provide those in need with educational opportunities. As President of Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF), Tom Kane helps sponsor 15 current and former soldiers who are in need of four year scholarships to universities in Israel.
“Where the Israeli government is responsible for training IDF soldiers and providing them with the necessary tools for their service, the FIDF is committed to providing these soldiers with love, support, and care to ease the burden they carry on behalf of the Jewish community worldwide,” says Kane.
Thomas Kane goes on to explain, “I’m focused on education because today’s students are the future innovators and leaders. I believe we have an obligation to improve access to high-quality education programs for students.”
In Detroit, Dr. Patrice Johnson supports education through her foundation, Boys Hope Girls Hope. The foundation runs three programs which each focus on holistic child development.
“We focus not only on a child going to college, graduating and being career-ready, but the development of that child from a social and emotional standpoint. We have our kids over eight years and we stick with them until they graduate from college. We have a 90 percent college graduation rate,” explains Dr. Johnson.
While the educational support of corporations, business executives and normal everyday people can be seen through giving, it’s important to remember what the late Nelson Mandela once famously said. “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
Businesses and people everywhere have the resources and reach to provide a major positive impact in their communities. Whether it’s by supporting education with a monetary donation, mentoring or volunteering, participating in acts of “giving back” has extensive benefits for everyone involved, especially the students who receive the gift of education.
