It’s really important during this time of year to consider what you will give back, rather than just looking at what you hope to get. The New York Times writer Nicholas Kristof recently wrote a powerful piece about 2019 giving. It is worth reading and learning about the amazing organizations that are helping people around the world, and how they are doing so.
Read this article and learn about charitable giving.
We’ve all heard of Black Friday, where you have the chance to go into debt buying things you might not need…but at least you an do so at a discounted price. Cyber Monday then comes along as well. But less people probably know about Giving Tuesday, it’s a global movement that started in 2012 to shift the holiday focus away from buying – and towards giving.
December 3 is Giving Tuesday this year and since it started, there have been more than 40,000 organizations in 71 countries that are part of the movement. If you use this hashtag #givingtuesday on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram you to connect with other people who are promoting and using this movement.
How can you be part of Giving Tuesday? Just go to your favorite charity online and give to them. Post that you’ve done so on social media to encourage others to as well.
And then feel great that you’ve been part of the giving, rather than the taking!
Many people may not know this about Jon Bon Jovi, but he really gives back. He has donated over $500,000 to help to build 70 new homes for homeless veterans around Washington D.C. He has done so, with his band, through the JBJ Soul Foundation. While speaking on CNN’s “The Lead with Jake Tapper,” he explained his motivation.
“Oftentimes, they’re [veterans] left to deal with PTSD [post-traumatic stress disorder] and the issue of coming back to the workplace after leaving the battlefield … Life as you knew it is going to be different, and sometimes, people need that extra help.”
His band’s new song, Unbroken, just dropped as well and is written for the document called “To Be Of Service” about veterans and their service dogs. All proceeds from the song will benefit the Patriotic Service Dog Foundation.
Laurent and Sumru Ramsey are outside the Summer Exhibition.
Here is a cause worth getting involved in. In Nashville, Tennessee, local firefighters will climb 862 stairs on November 2 to honor loved one who have died from lung cancer and to raise awareness about the risk of lung disease for firefighters. They will be doing the climb in full firefighter gear including helmets, masks and boots.
As Gail Frost, the executive director of the Lung Association said, “In the line of duty, firefighters are regularly exposed to smoke, gasses, chemicals and other substances that can be damaging to their lungs, making them at an increased risk for lung disease. Firefighters are out there saving lives every day, so hopefully the work we do at the American Lung Association can help prevent lung disease and find a cure for lung cancer. We are honored that so many local heroes participate in our event.”
The Fight For Air Climb attracts hundreds of participants and will be followed by an after-party on Church Street with music, beer and more.
Here is a sweet and fun fundraiser. At the Edmonton Expo recently, fans of Ghostbusters got into their Ghostbusters costumes to raise money for the Stollery Children’s Hospital. The group had authentic looking Ghostbuster costumes and raised money by selling merchandise and photos.
The Alberta Ghostbusters group started in 2011 and now has 35 members throughout the province. They are a registered charity and are supporting both the Stollery and the Alberta Children’s Hospital. In the last four years they’ve raised more than $20,000 and have the goal of raising $15,000 this year.
Learn more about their worthy cause and have a giggle here.
California Pizza Kitchen recently hosted a fundraiser across California to support a California Highway Patrol officer who was killed recently. Anyone who ate at their stores helped in the cause, as 20% of the profits from that day went to the Fallen Heroes, a nonprofit organization that supports families of officers and firefighters who have died while in the line of duty.
The officer was 34 year old Andrew Moye Jr. who left behind a wife and large family.
Learn more about The Fallen Heroes organization and get involved in the amazing work that they do.
To get in the 4th of July spirit – while also giving back – Wolverine has introduced an American-made Limited Edition Ramparts Boot. This is part of its US work boot collection and all proceeds from the online sale of the style from June 28 until July 5 will be donated to Workshops for Warriors.
Workshops for Warriors is a nonprofit that offers hands-on training and education programs to help veterans to find career options in the field of advanced manufacturing.
This story is too heartwarming to pass up. Scott Wellenbach grew up in Philadelphia and now lives in Nova Scotia. He’s a great poker player, and recently won $670,000 when he finished third in the 2019 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure Main Event.
Rather than using that money on a vacation, a car or some other fun activity – he’s giving it all to charity. He’s donated the money to causes like the Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, Amnesty International and Oxfam International.
It’s worth reading about his adventures and the generous impact he’s making on others.
When students and teachers work together to raise money for charity, amazing things can happen.
In Oregon, eight schools have united to create Scot’s Angel Club, a club that raises money for children in medical crisis. The schools created Community 101, a philanthropy project. According to them:
“Leadership students are the engine that makes the Scot’s Angel Club at David Douglas go. Part of Community 101 is teaching students the value of giving. Students spend hundreds of hours on fundraising and creating special projects for the Scot’s Angels club.”
The club has raised over $75,000 over the past 12 years. 100 percent of their proceeds go directly to the families involved. Students also volunteer in other ways, such as helping at food banks and cleaning up at the beach.