By Mai Nguyen-Tran

A fun way you can bond with your nieces and nephews while also giving back to the community is by doing one of my favorite hobbies – volunteer. The beauty of volunteering is that there is always something that you can contribute to or help with for a cause that is interesting to you. Participating in something both you and your nieces and nephews believe is important can be a lot of fun and also help create an impact in the community.
 
The benefits of volunteering and fundraising are endless. All it costs is a few hours of your time. Whether you join a one-time project or sign up for a non-profit organization, volunteering is whatever you make of it. This is a fantastic opportunity to remind your nieces and nephews what the importance of giving back is while also giving them the opportunity of meeting new people, gaining new experiences, and creating an impact. The possibilities are endless!

Now is the perfect opportunity to begin because June is Child Vision Awareness Month and you can easily find projects in your local community or join a non-profit organization with a cause that you and your nieces and nephews both enjoy.

Here are just a few volunteer opportunities to get you started:

New York Cares is a great organization that has a wide range of activities to choose from - from playing dodgeball to building houses.

The Pajama Program is also a fantastic organization that promotes literacy by reading to younger kids.

Minds Matter is a national program where you and your niece and/or nephew can mentor high school students. Or you can get involved in their local fundraisers that occur throughout the school year.

In need of more ideas? Check out volunteermatch.com which is a great site to explore local volunteer opportunities and find the perfect cause for you and your nieces and nephews.

Whatever the cause is, whether it is volunteering at a local food shelter, visiting the humane society, planting trees, or reading to kids, there is something for everyone. Give back while also having fun!

Mai is a Junior Analyst at Francis Financial, where her role is to support the team in client financial management, planning and portfolio investment. She is currently enrolled in the New York University School for Continuing and Professional Studies and is working to obtain her Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) designation.

Photo courtesy of New York Cares
Published: June 9, 2014