Greater Good Project

View the 2011 Greater Good presentation [PDF]

What is the Greater Good Project?
It's an all-church community endeavor, to bring meaning back to the holidays and tap into the strength and power of the spirit of the season. Each of us is asked to tally what we spend on the holiday season from: presents, wrappings, trimmings, travel, food and entertainment. Then take that number and cut it in half, and contribute that to a project at the church - a gift to the Greater Good. In 2006 we collected $79,000, in 2007 $72,500, in 2008 $62,500, in 2009 $58,000, and in 2010 $50,000 from members and friends of the church and members of the larger community. These contributions remind us of needs greater than our own and sure made "living simply so others can simply live" worth the effort and small sacrifice! You can view information on the projects funded for 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 using the menu at right.

This holiday season, we encourage you to live simply so that others may simply live. Checks may be sent to the church office and should be made payable to the First Unitarian Church, with "Greater Good" on the memo line. If you wish to honor someone by making a Greater Good contribution in their name, please use the form available through the link at upper right; you'll also find a link to a printable card you can use to inform them of your gift.

Donations to the 2011 Greater Good project totaled approximately $48,000 as of early January 2012

2011 Greater Good Recipients

Coping Power
A program of the well-respected Children's Institute of Rochester, Coping Power targets "tweens" in need of support. An evidence-based social and emotional program, Coping Power is proven to decrease delinquent behaviors by teaching skills in adaptive coping, organization, goal-setting, and self control. The program reduces aggressive behaviors, decreases suspensions, increases school bonding, and improves social competence, all leading to a decrease in youth violence and juvenile crime. Our gifts will bring Coping Power to eight more Rochester City Schools - where countless children will be impacted.

Honduras Project
An established task force of our church, the Honduras Project will use our donations to continue the school scholarship fund for children in Honduras that was established with the first Greater Good donation almost five years ago. So far the fund has supported 36 students to attend seventh gradeat an average cost of $460 per student per year. Although Honduran students are not charged tuition per se, they must pay for school and sports uniforms, books and other educational materials, and, in some cases, living expenses to board in town to avoid an overly long commute. Fewer than 10% of the students attending middle school with a scholarship from First Unitarian would have been able to attend middle school without this financial assistance. Our gifts are allowing children, families, and an entire community to grow, and we look forward to continuing to help their light shine in the world.

Exploring the Relationship Between Meaning and Money: Resources

Speaking of Faith Radio Show: "Money & Moral Balance"
Sons and Material Girls: How Not to Be Your Child's ATM, a book by Nathan Dungan
Money and the Meaning of Life, a book by Jacob Neeldeman

January 9 2012