Young people from wealthy families in Washington, D.C. take comfort in talking to their peers about the mixed feelings and guilt they experience because of their societal privilege and wealth.

• Resource Generation, a national membership organization, brings wealthy young people together who want to use their money for progressive change.
• The organization’s meetings provide members with a place to discuss personal issues that accompany being young, wealthy and committed social justice.
• Many members feel their inheritance and the accompanying privilege they enjoy perpetuates the injustices they work hard to fight against and change.

Facts & Figures

• A Boston College study concluded that about $50 trillion will be passed from one generation to the next over the first five decades of this century.
• The number of children of millionaires decreased from 26 million in 2007 to 19 million 2009, according to the Center on Wealth and Philanthropy at Boston College.
• There are a little more than 250,000 millionaire households in which the head of household is 35 or younger.

Best Quote

“I definitely feel like I am at war between my desires instilled in me to eat out at nice restaurants and my better sense and principles. If I make different choices when I am older, I hope to God they’re coming out of principles. Everyone changes. My great-grandmother was a communist in her 20s and a total conservative in her 90s. I won’t rule out anything.” – Janelle Treibitz, 28, Part-Time Waitress

Tags: Center on Wealth and Philanthropy, Resource Generation, social justice, wealth, Youth