Volunteer Central is visiting local businesses for Giving Tuesday, a global giving movement that has been driven by individuals, charities, businesses and communities across Canada and in countries around the world. Just as Black Friday kicks off the holiday shopping season, Giving Tuesday is the opening day of the giving season.
Giving Tuesday, the global day of generosity, continues to gain traction across the country in its fourth year, with thousands of partner organizations and millions of Canadians expected to take part. To date more than 5,400 Canadian charities, businesses and community groups have used Giving Tuesday to rally generosity and help make the world a better place in countless ways. Around the globe people are participating in #GivingTuesday activities in 71 countries including Australia, Brazil, Kenya, Slovenia, Tanzania, the UK and more.
The impact of Giving Tuesday goes well beyond charitable donations, inspiring giving in all its forms. From coast to coast to coast, people are embracing this day as an opportunity to raise money for local charities and non-profits, run food and clothing drives, give blood, encourage kindness, help a neighbour and celebrate generosity.
This year there is a groundswell of Giving Tuesday activity, organized by local community groups in 30 cities and towns from coast to coast. Red Deer Mayor Tara Veer, and mayors across the country have proclaimed Nov. 29th as ‘Giving Tuesday’ and these civic movements have created a platform for a deeper level of engagement between charities, businesses and local residents.
The movement was launched in Canada in 2013 by GIV3 and CanadaHelps.org, and founded in the US in 2012 by 92nd Street Y in partnership with the UN Foundation.
A ‘cheer squad’ hosted by Volunteer Central staff will visit more than 10 local businesses throughout the day on Nov. 29th, snapping and posting the unique ‘unselfies’ made popular by previous Giving Tuesday campaigns. Staff from the businesses will be encouraged to re-post their selfies with special #givingtuesday hashtags and messages promoting volunteerism and philanthropy. The team includes students from Red Deer College and from SAIT who have volunteered their time and energy for the day.
Volunteer Central also participates in promoting Giving Tuesday as a member of Central AB Gives. To learn more about how to get involved or view a full list of GivingTuesday partners in Central Alberta, visit www.givingtuesday.ca and https://givingtuesday.ca/partners/central-alberta-gives.
– Fawcett
