and, sorry chloe, i think you are not only generalizing, but way off base. where i live, many children do work & contribute. some also volunteer and intitate fund raisers. they show up to community meetings.
the problem with america today, in my eyes, is of people not taking responsibility of their own actions or for themselves. i think people need to point more fingers at themselves and not as much as others. look inward, not outward.
and remember, charity, predjudice & materialism (and many other things) are learned at home.
(that's my opinion, i could be wrong)
hope, your annie is one-in-a-million.