Time, Talent, and Treasure
- James Purse
- Dec 3, 2025
- 4 min read
A seasonal lesson for independent schools and the children we serve
By, James “Jimi” Purse
Arcadia Education Partners
Partnering with schools to align leadership, communication, and innovation. inspiredbyarcadia.com
Independent schools often rely on a simple yet profound idea when they talk about community support. Every family can contribute through time, talent, or treasure. Each contribution carries weight. Each one strengthens the school. Some families give financially, some volunteer for events, and others offer expertise that enriches student programs in ways that money alone never could. At its heart, this framework is about belonging. It invites every family to step inside the life of the school and feel that their participation matters.
I once worked at a school where a father volunteered to help run the morning car line every Friday. He could not attend mid-day events and he could not make a large annual gift, but every Friday he showed up - rain, snow, or shine - with a smile and a cup of coffee. Students knew they could count on him. Faculty looked forward to his humor. Parents appreciated the predictability of a friendly face at arrival. His gift was time and it changed the tone of the entire morning routine. His presence was a reminder that community grows when people show up for one another in simple ways.
This seasonal message becomes even more powerful when we extend it to children. As the holidays approach, young people often feel pressure to buy gifts, even if they have very little money. There is a moment in many families when a child asks what they can give an aunt, a coach, or a friend, and the adults scramble to come up with an inexpensive idea. Instead of focusing on the price tag, we can teach children that generosity comes from intention. A second grade teacher once told me that her students created “gratitude coupons” for their families. One coupon offered an afternoon of reading together. Another offered help with a household chore. Another offered a hand-drawn portrait of a family member. Parents kept these coupons on refrigerators for years because they captured something deeper than a store-bought gift. They captured presence.
Children also hold incredible talent that is often overlooked because it feels small to them. I remember a middle schooler who spent hours learning to play guitar. He worried that he had nothing meaningful to give his grandparents for the holidays. Instead of buying something, he composed a short song and played it for them during a family gathering. His grandparents cried. Not because the song was perfect, but because it was his talent, offered with sincerity. Moments like these teach children that their gifts have power when they come from who they are.
Treasure can be reimagined for children too. The most meaningful treasures are often not expensive. They are personal. A young girl I knew growing up in Ohio collected and polished stones from every family trip. She chose one to give to each of her friends every year, and she would explain why that stone reminded her of their friendship. Oh, how I wished she would give me a stone - it seemed so much more unique and exciting than a matchbox car or small trinket. When I was older I got a rock polishing kit and tried making my own smooth stones, but it didn’t ever feel the same. These small treasures carried more emotional weight than any wrapped package.
Independent schools are uniquely positioned to model this mindset. When schools elevate all forms of giving, they remind families that community is not defined by financial capacity. It is defined by connection. I worked at a school that held an annual Celebration of Giving. Families who contributed time were honored alongside donors at a beautifully decorated brunch - and everyone was invited. Parents who led clubs, coached teams, staffed book fairs, or planned community gatherings received handwritten notes from students. Those who shared professional expertise were spotlighted for how their knowledge helped shape student learning. The room was filled with gratitude for many kinds of gifts, and children absorbed a powerful lesson. Everyone contributes. Everyone belongs.
As a consultant who partners with schools on culture, communication, and family engagement, I often encourage leaders to make time, talent, and treasure part of their yearlong narrative. Tell stories of volunteers who make a quiet difference. Highlight alumni who return to mentor students. Share examples of families who lift up the school through generosity that is both financial and relational. When children see these stories throughout the year, they begin to understand that giving is not an event. It is a way of living in community.
This holiday season offers a perfect opportunity to bring these ideas into practice at home and at school. Invite students to reflect on the people who supported them this year and imagine how they might give back in ways that feel authentic. Encourage families to model creative giving and talk openly about what generosity means. Whether it is a handmade card, an hour spent helping a sibling, or a small treasure chosen with care, these acts teach children that they already possess the ability to make others feel valued.
When we help children see that their time, their talent, and their small treasures matter, we prepare them for a lifetime of joyful giving. This framework becomes more than a fundraising model. It becomes a practice of gratitude, connection, and care that strengthens every community. If your school would like support weaving these ideas into your culture or communication strategy, I would be glad to connect.
James “Jimi” Purse
Arcadia Education Partners
Partnering with schools to align leadership, communication, and innovation.
