Volunteer Brings the Love of Service to the Next Generation

Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Lucinda Robb. Read her story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light. 

Five years after founding KidsGiving, Lucinda Robb’s previously unnoticed Pez dispenser collection became a conversation-starter when the basement office they’re displayed in became her default pandemic Zoom background. With previous roles in guest relations and education recruitment, an unexpected hobby might be a surprise, but when you run an organization designed to teach elementary school students about philanthropy, it’s a novelty worth telling your kids about. 

The pandemic was a hurdle to KidsGiving’s expansion but in what Lucinda considers one of the most rewarding periods of her work, enthusiastic PTA leaders figured out how to keep things running. Today, there are chapters in three different schools and a newly-launched pilot program for high school students. The latter teaches participants the ins and outs of nonprofits as businesses and sets them up to volunteer with local organizations. 

Lucinda also serves on multiple boards of directors supporting a range of organizations that help people reach their full potential as well as the National Archives at the Center for Legislative Archives where she used to work. Above all, she aims to inspire young people to give time and money to initiatives they care about and is proud to see her own kids–ages 17, 18 and 20–follow in her footsteps.

What inspires you to volunteer? 

My mother used to be on the board for Points of Light. I learned about volunteering and civic engagement from her. 

In college, I had a Girl Scout troop for three years. Initially, I assumed I’d be the third special helper or something doing paper mache, but on my first day, I discovered that I was the only leader. I’d only been a Girl Scout for two years. Aside from my thesis, it wound up being what I most organized my senior year around, and I loved it.  

I joined my first board a few years after I graduated from college, the Fairfax Public Library Foundation. I’ve been a very enthusiastic reader all of my life. My mother was one of the people who helped start Reading is Fundamental. 

What inspired you to get started with these initiatives? 

I’m currently on the National Archives Foundation board. I’m a huge enthusiast and booster. Of my current boards, that’s the one I’ve been on the longest.

I’m on the board of Scholarship America, the country’s largest private administrator of scholarships, and Network2Work, which helps people who are unemployed or underemployed find meaningful jobs. I got involved with both because I was asked. 

I’m also on the board of Running Start, which is a nonpartisan group that trains and helps young women run for office. In college, I wrote my thesis on women congressional candidates and campaign financing, so I was interested. I was also impressed. Additionally, I’ve worked with the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC), which remains one of the best run nonprofits I’ve encountered.

After I had my third child, I didn’t want to travel and work so much, so I stayed home. I still wanted to be involved in my community, so I joined a variety of different causes, eventually starting Kidsgiving to get kids involved in philanthropy.  

Most of us learn how to behave and interact with people, but we don’t get more explicit instruction on how to be charitable or get involved with our community. I’ve had examples in my life. You pick up a lot of that by osmosis, so I wanted to get used to the idea of helping out their neighbors. 

Tell us about your roles. 

I’m the behind-the-scenes cheerleader and co-leader to two different groups at KidsGiving, including a middle school club and the high school pilot program we launched this year, KidsGiving Pro. The latter teaches kids about how organizations run and gives them more exposure and experience. 

Once we restart in the fall, I’m hoping to do training and fundraise, and again, help them understand how to evaluate nonprofits, how to give an elevator speech, how to be an advocate for a cause, etc. We work with 15 nonprofits who talk to the kids.  Ideally, kids who have done the high school program for a year will have an opportunity to volunteer in a leadership role, like a junior board member. 

I usually end up being on governance or nominating committees on the different boards I’m a part of. With any organization, sometimes you just need somebody to be the enthusiastic glue, someone who makes sure people get to know each other and talk about more than the budget. When you like the people, you make the extra effort. Being on multiple boards, I also have the advantage of seeing what works and what doesn’t. 

Why is it important for others to get involved with causes they care about?   

Having a good civic infrastructure correlates strongly with how well your government runs and how well people feel their government functions. I think that’s a sign of where we are right now. People don’t connect with each other in non-political ways. Being involved and having social connections are good for your health, and it’s good for society.

What do you want people to learn from your story? 

When I was younger, I always thought I had to be invited to do something. The real change for me was when I did Leadership Arlington. I suddenly understood that I could just have an idea and follow up on it. I don’t have to ask for permission.

I’m particularly grateful to my mom and my aunt for giving me examples of getting involved and doing good things in the community. The Washington Post has a section where they talk about people who are doing good things as well. If you’re going to do something good, make sure that the next generation can see it, not for show, but to inspire them to do the same. 

Do you want to make a difference in your community like Lucinda? Find local volunteer opportunities.