“It’s the most wonderful time if the year,” if you haven’t already heard. And perhaps today will be one of the most wonderful days of the year for some: #GivingTuesday.
We can easily get caught up in the superficial part of the holidays—namely buying, bargaining, decorating and receiving. Even my good man Charlie Brown needed to be reminded of what the season was really about. Since Thanksgiving Day, media outlets and retailers have witnessed and reported on the successes of the official Holiday shopping season thus far. But the holidays are known as the season of giving, and some depend on the generosity of others during this time to keep them going for the whole year. Today, we can put the superficial spectacles aside and dedicate ourselves to “peace on earth and goodwill towards men.”
Last Year, New York’s 92nd Street Y and the United Nation Foundation’s #GivingTuesday campaign helped over 100,000 people give back and raise millions of dollars for more than 2,500 business and charities. This year, the campaign is even bigger as more businesses and not-for-profits are giving volunteers and donors more ways to get involved.
This Two for Tuesday, we’re giving you two ideas on how to participate in #GivingTuesday (and we’re giving you a playlist to get you into the mood).
Donate
Whether you donate your time or your money, do something to be a part of this movement. You can donate to from not-for-profits and businesses to families, students and universities. Visit GivingTuesday.org for more information. And, although it might not be “officially sanctioned” for #GivingTuesday, random acts of kindness and paying it forward are never bad ideas.
Share Using #UnSelfie and #Giving Tuesday
Last year, the #GivingTuesday hashtag received more than 2.5 million Twitter impressions. Along with #GivingTuesday, which has been trending since this morning, the campaign is promoting the #UnSelfie hashtag. Basically, users can post a photo or video that’s not a selfie, but rather something else in the name of giving (UnSelfies promote unselfishness, if you will). Along with including the hashtags, users are encouraged to share what they’re doing for #GivingTuesday and why. Social Media could be a major influencer for others to get involved. Check out the #UnSelfie toolkit for more information.
What are you doing for #GivingTuesday? Share it with us in the comments below!
Click here if you’re looking for more ways to get involved.
Cover Photo Source: Natalia Sannikova
[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]https://wpmaster.sjadv.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Cassandra-Bremer-Our-Space-Photo-e1402061863316.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]Cassandra is a Content Manager and Developer at SJG. She earned her BA from Fontbonne University in 2011. Outside the office, she enjoys an active, healthy and well-rounded lifestyle including reading, writing, running, golfing, watching films, listening to music, taking photographs, and consuming media and social media.[/author_info] [/author]