Compassion Counts More Than Ever

Public or community service has become a mainstay in contemporary society and many believe it is important to be personally involved in supporting a cause in their communities (94%) or the world (91%). An estimated 78% of respondents think that the actions of one person can improve the world, while the same amount believe they're more involved in making a difference than their parents were.

Nine out of ten respondents strongly believe they are working hard to teach their children the importance of activism, specifically through leading by example (64%), talking to them about important issues and causes (51%), discussing their own charitable efforts with them (35%), taking them to meetings/volunteer engagements (32%), urging them to follow role models who work for positive change (31%), and encouraging them to donate money to causes (25%).

The motivations for public service vary, however 60% of respondents indicate they want to help other people and 57% want to make the world a better place. Another 49% would like to improve their own neighborhoods.

The volunteer activities that people are engaged in include delivering food to the hungry (37%), helping organize fundraising events (30%), participating in a cleanup at a local public area (32%), volunteering in a soup kitchen/food bank (24%), participating in an athletic event to raise money for a cause (21%), or mentoring a student (19%).

Despite difficult economic times, 87% of respondents say that they financially supported a cause last year. In 2009, survey respondents gave over $400 on average to the single cause they cared most about.