Philanthropy is a marvelous concept, but also an often debated one in our society. While the wealthiest men in history, like John Rockefeller and Bill Gates, dedicated much of their lives and fortunes to it, attaching their names to multi-million philanthropic organizations along the way, some of the most notable thinkers of all time, like Ayn Rand and Nietzsche, denounce the very idea of charity. They defiantly represent opposite stances, but both sides maintain their position rather justifiably.

The volunteers of the I AM program (I am Intelligent, I am Aware, and I am Motivated to go to College) have neither the enormous material wealth to give nor the formal philosophical background to justify the simple act of giving. Yet, they very well understand that neither element is what makes philanthropy so marvelous.

The I AM program embodies a beautiful concept. It is not simply about helping others, but helping other help themselves. The ancient Chinese proverb, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime,” soundly echoes the program’s purpose, but the 6-year-old mentoring and tutoring program is anything but cliché. Established by the Achievement Award Program (TAAP) scholars as a means to give back to the community, I AM was inspired by the common belief that all students deserve the opportunity to success, regardless of their socio-economic upbringing. It may lack the reputable name and the multimillion budget, but it possessed competence and compassion.

This spring, I AM tutors made their way to Berkeley High School every Tuesday and Wednesday. There, they tutored and mentored students who need assistance in a variety of subjects, even ones outside the bounds of academics. The program was also set up to act as an intervention to prevalent problems such as drugs, gangs, and violence. Thus, the tutors and mentors do not serve solely as instructors, but also as sources of guidance and perhaps even inspiration to the students they meet. The I AM program has also been coupled with the I Can at Cal program, which seeks to bring students from all over the state to Berkeley. This includes an annual spring retreat at Cal. It may be just one weekend that allows them to experience the world of higher education, but it is first and foremost, an opportunity.

This is what differentiates I AM from the conventional philanthropy. The goal isn’t to sustain a student’s grade as some philanthropists seek to sustain an impoverished person’s life. The goal is to initiate and provide opportunities for those who seek to learn and succeed. “[Our] goal is to inspire students…[and] we’ve encouraged many students to persevere,” says I AM program director Denise Lopez.

I AM volunteers can receive units or outreach credit for their work, but many come out of the program not just ahead in school or resume. They develop as sincere belief in the idea of helping others to help themselves. Eric Huynh, a Cal freshman and active member of the I AM program, initially joined to receive outreach credit, but has found himself to be an asset in “opening many doors [of opportunity] for [those he mentors].” He has had the opportunity to get to know some well and is already optimistic about their future. He has hopes that his struggling students will take the opportunities to “receive a high school diploma…and get a college degree.” One may wonder where he has found such faith. “They say ‘thanks’,” he says.

I am not certain that the power of a simple “thanks” can be fully understood by either the richest of philanthropists or the most enlightened of minds. But one look at I AM and I am certain that it is powerful.