Wow. How does a parent of two very different teens who have been members of Playing for Others talk about how this organization has impacted the life of the family? Playing for Others has changed and grown since the first organizational meeting three years ago, much in the same way my two daughters have changed and grown. PFO began as a group of teen actors who seized the opportunity to move the spotlight from themselves to a group of kids who were truly amazing. This simple mission has grown to be so much more.
The gifts of compassion, empathy, and the passion to make a difference are ones a parent hopes to bring to his/her children as they mature and grow into great human beings. Having these important intangible character traits reinforced by example within a group of peers who share the passion of respect and social justice is a gift parents can only dream of, unless of course, their child stumbles upon Playing for Others.
I have two very different children who have taken completely different lessons and rewards from the Playing for Others experience. Like marbles in a glass, each daughter had different voids within their human capacity to love, care, learn and respond. To me, one of the most amazing accomplishments of “Playing for Others” is the diversity of activities, academic offerings, business teachings, and life lessons that occur at every meeting in which the group gathers. The buddy events allow opportunities for growth, patience, and love. The fund-raising aspects of the group fine-tune business acumen, public speaking, confidence, organization, and persistence. The amazing part of this non-profit beyond the obvious of aspect of raising money for fabulous partner charities , and developing deep relationships with the amazing kids from these partner charities is the way the members themselves grow as human beings. I have a daughter, Emily, who will be graduating from Playing for Others and high school this spring. Our world will be a better place as she joins the other Playing for Others alumni and goes forth framing every opportunity through the PFO lens of “What can I do to make things better?”