When I was 7 years old, my family and I were leaving church when another family in an old,
beat-up car pulled into a parking space. They had run out of money, food, and gas and had all
their belongings piled into the back of their car. While our church leaders were helping them,
my dad took our family to the Wendy’s down the street to get them some food. I will never
forget the look on their faces when we handed them the fast-food bags. Even as a young
child, my parents’ generosity and compassion for this family they knew nothing about left a
strong imprint on my heart.
I believe my parents gave me one of the most important gifts of all that day; that is, the
desire to help others. In today’s world, our children are inundated with messages that
constantly reinforce narcissism and selfishness. They can quickly become self-obsessed,
wanting everything and wanting it fast. Too often we forget that adults have an amazing
opportunity and responsibility to teach younger generations the importance of caring for one
another and for our planet.
Bene Bear™ was created to help parents reinforce the values of altruism, compassion, and
empathy. When a child associates putting the token in the bear to donating a gift of money,
time, or kindness, the behavior is learned and repeated each month. My hope is that the
good feeling that comes along with this benevolence will stay with your child for an entire
lifetime! Thank you for supporting the Bene Bear™ movement and please feel free to spread
the word!
Karalyne Ley
Founder, Bene World, LLC
