Parent to Parent: Family Philanthropy

WSVN -- Working hard for a cause these kids are third generation fundraisers, collecting cash, hoping to someday find a cure for diabetes.

For the Finkelstein family, it all began 30 years ago when daughter Pam was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. The entire family immediately threw themselves into the cause.

Robin Finkelstein: "I remember standing on the street corners and asking people in their cars to please help us find a cure for diabetes and collecting all the money and adding it all up and being very excited to hopefully one day find a cure."

Over three decades, the family has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars. It's a tradition passed down from one generation to the next.

Pam Berstein: "Having my nieces and nephews involved, they're following their parents' and their grandparents' footsteps. It's really makes me proud."

Whether it's collecting on street corners or stopping traffic at a neighborhood lemonade stand, grandmother Linda says the kids are learning an important life lesson.

Linda Finkelstein: "They're learning to give, to donate, to be charitable, to help others. They're learning compassion, empathy. My daughters are amazing, my grandchildren, it's wonderful."

Pam's sister Barbara often chairs events like the upcoming Kids Party For A Cure.

The kids are involved here too. Pam's son Adam is a tennis wiz, and he's donating private lessons to the highest bidder at the event's silent auction.

Adam Bernstein: "It makes me feel good because I'm helping my mom out. It makes her happy."

His cousin Ryan agrees.

Ryan Amoils: "I'm proud to raise money, and I'm proud to help be part of helping find a cure for diabetes."

The kids say they'll continue the family tradition of giving when they grow up, and for the the Diabetes Research Institute, which put their donations to very good use, it's good to know these kids will continue giving.

Robert Pearlman: "It's tremendously gratifying to see the involvement, how they care, to see the families coming together and make this kind of an effort. It's special."

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Dr. Valerie Goode
http://www.drvaleriegoode.com/

Diabetes Research Institute Foundation
www.diabetesresearch.org/Foundation/drifmain.htm