| Recently a group of people in Brooklyn, New | | | | life altering moments happened to him after |
| York helped obtain food donations and fed 800 | | | | he read a passage the book, "The Seven Habits |
| people at the Children of the City annual | | | | of Highly Effective People," which helps |
| Thanksgiving food drive. The organization has | | | | people in achieving interdependent |
| reached thousands of children at home, | | | | effectiveness by offering seven principles. |
| school, and on the streets and playgrounds. | | | | |
| | | | The book speaks about an emotional bank |
| "Our group went to food distributors and | | | | account... whereas if you do good for others |
| asked them to donate canned foods and | | | | and keep commitments, you make deposits in |
| turkeys. We obtained enough food to feed more | | | | other people's emotional bank accounts. As |
| than 800 people, who my family and I along | | | | these deposits grow, your relationship grows. |
| with other members of Children of the City | | | | Think about times when you made a broken |
| helped distribute to the families," said | | | | promise or a hurtful statement. If your |
| Rocco Basile, one of the charity's board | | | | emotional bank account is full from past |
| members. "With support like this we can | | | | deposits, people will forgive you. |
| effectively reach and change the lives of | | | | |
| many families, improving their quality of | | | | He continued, "This concept has helped me |
| life by breaking the cyclical effects of | | | | repair many broken relationships. This has |
| poverty and giving them hope for their | | | | changed the way I treat others. Relationships |
| future." | | | | are the source of my happiness." |
| | | | |
| For more than two decades since 1981, this | | | | This was an epiphany as he realized that |
| organization has successfully served the | | | | there was a time in his life when nobody |
| underprivileged children and families in the | | | | would have come to his funeral, never mind |
| inner-city communities Southwest Brooklyn, | | | | speaking at it. |
| helping them overcome welfare and poverty and | | | | |
| become homeowners, businesspeople, and more. | | | | Now, one of the elements that he has realized |
| Many families have turned away from | | | | is important for this process to work is that |
| lifestyles of violence and gang activity and | | | | it begins with education. Many poeple believe |
| have overcome substance abuse. They are now | | | | that providing a role model for youth gives |
| pouring time back into the community by | | | | them an understanding. |
| volunteering. | | | | |
| | | | People interested in changing their lives |
| The giving team includes many certified | | | | might ask themselves, "What is my talent and |
| professionals, along with 50 highly committed | | | | how can I serve?" |
| and trained volunteers who visit about one | | | | |
| thousand children each month. The | | | | People like Rocco Basile can also serve |
| organization maintains information on over | | | | others by sharing experiences and showing |
| 500 families in the community and gives them | | | | others how to live a life of ethics, morals |
| encouragement and resources. | | | | and a strong sense of principal. A life that |
| | | | you can be proud of gives tranquility and |
| In recent years Basile has been spending more | | | | happiness. |
| time with his charity work. One of several | | | | |