Black Friday turns to Cyber Monday, now it’s Giving Tuesday
Lexington, KY - First there were the holiday shopping frenzies of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Now, there’s Giving Tuesday.
Today people across the nation are being asked to take a break from shopping and make a donation to their charity of choice. This is the first year for Giving Tuesday, the brainchild of the 92nd Street YMCA in New York City.
“An easy way for the community to participate is to go to www.goodgivingguide.net and make a donation to a local nonprofit that is part of the Challenge,” Lisa Adkins, Blue Grass Community Foundation (BGCF) president and CEO, said.
The Good Giving Guide was created by Smiley Pete Publishing in partnership with the BGCF. So far this year, 2088 gifts totaling $166,060. have been pledged, already exceeding the 2011 total with a full month remaining. The campaign continues until midnight, December 31.
Some local organizations that are participating in the GoodGiving Guide Challenge see Giving Tuesday as a natural fit and have hopped on the bandwagon. The Council of State Governments has worked Giving Tuesday and GoodGiving Guide Challenge into its year-end charitable program.
“Retailers have learned that technology is important in linking customers to products, and now, technology is being used for the real purpose of the season,” David Adkins, executive director/CEO, Council of State Governments, said. “One reason we’re participating in Giving Tuesday and the GoodGiving Guide Challenge is because technology has made giving exceptionally easy and impactful. We know that the charities participating in the Challenge have been screened and that gives us a high level of confidence that our donations are being used wisely.”
Coinciding with the day, The Anthany and Eunice Beatty Family Foundation at BGCF announces an award of a $1000 grant to a nonprofit in the Education or Youth category in the 2012 GoodGiving Guide. The grant will go to the nonprofit with the most unique donors giving $25 or more during the week that began on Monday, November 26.
“We’ve always cared about helping young people, and over the years we’ve given to a number of efforts that align with that,” Eunice Beatty said. “We support programs that help youth fulfill their potential, overcome obstacles, and embrace positive opportunities.”
The Beattys will also donate two UK basketball tickets for the Saturday Dec. 8 game to a donor drawn at random from all those who give $25.00 or more to an organization in the Youth or Education category during that same week.
Visit www.goodgivingguide.net today and donate to any of the 68 participating central Kentucky nonprofits. The Challenge runs through the end of the year.
For more information on Giving Tuesday, visit www.givingtuesday.org.