Amazing Apps: Helpen (Interview)

 “Helpen is a program designed to empower kids to learn, give and understand the positive consequences of actions rooted in kindness,” said creator Craig Sanders. “In such a formative time in their lives, showing kids the power of generosity is an important part of them developing into responsible, aware and selfless individuals. Helpen is about providing an experience that will help shape the next generation into the empathetic and generous leaders of tomorrow.”

The concept is simple: every week, Helpen sends postcards to parents listing pre-screened, kid appropriate nonprofits. Kids pick a charity they want to learn about and support with a $1 donation. Parents enter donations using a special QR code on the cards and then activate Amazon’s Alexa to share a customized message about their chosen cause and how far their $1 contribution can go. Included in the voice experience are real-life examples of what their donation can help accomplish, whether it’s feeding a horse, giving PPE, providing life-saving medications or delivering colorful bedsheets to kids undergoing cancer treatment in the hospitals.

I had a chance to interview him to learn more.

Why did you create Helpen?

HELPEN ultimately came about from my childhood. My dad was a pilot in Vietnam and pre-covid an usher at his local church; he’s a man of high principle. He get’s embarrassed at times when I say this, but ever since I was a little kid, there hasn’t been a dollar bill that’s been safe anytime we would come across someone experiencing homelessness, especially a veteran. He never made a big deal out it, but as a child I think those experiences added up. Years later, applying to business school, I needed to explain why I had developed such a passion for fundraising for several nonprofits and an altruistic mindset. It was clear that I was simply a product of my early childhood environment. Shortly after applying, I came across an article that said the first 8-9 years of our lives are the most formative for all of us, and I thought, if we know that, and having recently looked back on my own childhood, ‘Why aren’t we leveraging tech to help shape the next generation into the generous and empathetic leaders we sometimes wish we were?' I looked around and realized that there wasn’t a scalable way to teach generosity or the soft skills that are so valued later on in life. So I decided to quit my job in finance to start HELPEN and give it a shot.

Why is it so important for kids to know that micro-donations can have an impact?

Often times we make assumptions that in order to have an impact, you need to contribute large amounts of money or resources. What HELPEN is teaching today’s youth is that even small acts of kindness, when combined, can lead to big change. On HELPEN’s platform they can plant a tree or feed a horse individually, but kids can also contribute to causes with larger goals, like the $25 it will cost to provide a new set of colorful bedsheets for a child undergoing cancer treatment in the hospital. Ultimately it’s building a foundation of understanding that when we work together, big things can happen.

What sets Helpen apart form other ways to donate?

The goal of HELPEN isn’t to donate but rather teach generosity. It’s about using these micro-donations as teaching tools through actionable learning. Empowering kids to make decisions and hear their positive impact right away through Alexa or Google Assistant. Donations will certainly accrue as a result. Because most families use HELPEN around the dinner table, supporting causes - which is often a single person act -  is now a team effort as everyone contributes with their choice of who they’d like to help. Feedback from parents is that HELPEN has lead to terrific conversations on gratitude, compassion and empathy, which is exactly what we had hoped.