How I Inspired a Philanthropic Mindset in My Daughters

“An entrepreneurial drive runs through my family’s veins. My grandfather owned a very successful bakery in his small Italian hometown, my father ran his own business, I have headed up several companies of my own and my daughters have now taken the entrepreneurial path. I’m proud of what I have accomplished and what my daughters have done, but most of all, I’m proud of the values I’ve been able to hand down to my children: a strong work ethic, happiness and a commitment to philanthropy.

That last one is something my father instilled in me at a very young age. I vividly remember one particular Thanksgiving, when my father’s business was new and not yet profitable. When the holidays came around, my father bought 12 extra turkeys to donate to the local church.

“We have much more than many people,” he said. “We are blessed, and we have to share what we have.”

That act sparked something in my heart that has stayed with me ever since. My father’s generosity informed my principles as a businesswoman and my actions as a mother.

My entrepreneurial journey hasn’t always been easy, but my girls were with me every step of the way, and they saw that I was happy, even when I was working extremely hard for something I believed in. They grew up watching me juggle multiple projects and businesses, and they became accustomed to thriving in a fast-paced environment.

All parents want to see their children fulfill their dreams, and my daughters saw that building a business you love is a very real possibility. I suppose I must have made it look fun because they are all now on their own paths to entrepreneurial success.

My oldest daughter, Amanda, is my right-hand woman and business partner. Kristina, 24, owns a yogurt business and is pursuing her passion and interest in nutrition. Stormy, 21, free-spirited and creative, decided to forego college to develop her own jewelry line. She plans to study yoga in Bali and eventually open her own studio. And Jay, my youngest, is preparing to head to college and pursue a business degree. With so many unique interests, it wouldn’t surprise me in the least if she also pursued an entrepreneurial path.

As proud as I am of my daughters’ creativity, drive and success, watching them embrace the philanthropic values I taught them is even more gratifying. My daughters have been blessed with a great life; since they were young, it’s been important to me to involve them in all of the philanthropic events that I participated in and sponsored.

They stood by me as I founded and ran a nonprofit organization for 10 years. It was an experience that I treasure because I was able to make a positive impact and show my girls what it was like to be a mom and a businesswoman.

Now, they’re taking the initiative to give back on their own. Amanda co-founded The Barbara Family Foundation, and Stormy is a “Big Sister” with Big Brothers Big Sisters and is working on a book with a philanthropic component. All of my girls have volunteered and donated to those in need, and I am deeply satisfied to see how they incorporate this social awareness into their lives and work.

Of course, it’s not always easy to watch your children chart their own course. Motherhood is a journey, and I had my own lessons to learn as they began their business endeavors. As an entrepreneur, I knew the struggles they would face. I worried about the stress they’d feel trying to turn ideas into reality.

Even though I was worried, I knew it was important to encourage them to try new things and not be afraid of failure. Changing your mind doesn’t mean you’re failing, I’ve told them. It means you are alive and passionate and willing to take risks.

No two kids are the same; each will have distinct interests and talents. It’s important to nurture what’s unique and avoid pressuring your child to conform. Happiness is paramount in my book, and if one of my girls needed to experiment with several different interests before finding one that fit, that was fine by me.

Contributing to the social good has always been important to me, and I’ve tried to foster kindness and generosity in my girls. I wanted them to know that it is possible to succeed at something you’re passionate about and give back to others who are less fortunate. There’s a great sense of accomplishment in seeing them flourish and live the values I prize most, and I could not be prouder.”

By Hellen Barbara
Photo by EMprize | Shuttertock

Hellen Barbara is the founder and president of Pubslush, a global crowdfunding and analytics platform for the literary world. She presently serves on the board of directors for the Gavin’s Got Heart Foundation, is a member of the Exceptional Women in Publishing organization and is a Power Circle member of 85 Broads.