The season of gift giving has become tainted in popular American culture by the infamous event that is “Black Friday.” The excitement over a great deal on gifts can turn into an ugly display of greed. There is now a movement to launch a new national day of spending focused not on giving, but on giving back.
Giving Tuesday, slated to launch November 27th, is a new initiative to create a national day of giving at the start of the Holiday shopping season. Giving Tuesday is about creating a call of action to establish coordinated giving, much in the way retailers coordinate Black Friday sales and online retailers offer Cyber Monday deals. Retailers, charities and organizations are coming together to inspire a day of giving and celebration of the American traditions of philanthropy and volunteerism.
Giving Tuesday offers a day you can feel good about during the Holiday shopping season. If you are taking the Made in America Holiday Challenge, you are obviously already committed to making your gift giving count. Being mindful of the purchases we make is the fundamental principle behind being a conscious consumer. Giving back is an important part of this philosophy.
On November 27th, I invite you to join me in what will hopefully be the first in an annual tradition of Giving Tuesdays. To get involved, start researching non-profits and charities you might choose to support with a donation. Find ways you can get involved with volunteering in your area to give back to your own community. Look for gifts from companies that reflect your values and give back by donating a portion of their sales to charity.
Spread the word about the importance of giving back and join in the conversation at givingtuesday.org, or on Twitter by following the hashtag #givingtuesday. I also invite you to join me in supporting Feeding America by making a donation on November 27th to the made in usa challenge virtual food drive. Together we can create a new American tradition of giving.
I definitely want to do more gifts this year to charities in someone else’s name….best gift for those that have it all already.
Donating in someone’s honor can be the most touching gift. There are also so many “gifts that give back” that allow you to give someone a tangible gift to open that benefits a good cause at the same time. I will be highlighting some American made ideas next month!
This is such a wonderful idea. Our consumerism can be used for good!
What a great idea!
Love this idea! Thanks for sharing this, Sarah!
I love this idea so much!!! I cannot even tell you!!! Pinning!!
Wow, Sarah! What a tremendous idea…thank you SO MUCH for posting this and for this amazing website! I’ve started (thanks to David!) posting your site on my Facebook page…you are doing an outstanding job and a glorious service to your site’s followers as well as for U.S. businesses!
Thank you for visiting, Micheal. I commend you for everything you are doing to improve the wonderful city of Philadelphia!
I love this idea! We don’t participate in Black Friday for various reasons so this is a great way to support spending our money to help others instead!
I think initiative is great alternative to Black Friday. It’s a spending tradition we can all feel good about!
Thank you for sharing this! I love this idea…it is a much needed alternative to constantly spending at this time of year!
This is great. Our family tries to use Halloween as a give instead of take time. We drop treats off at people’s houses with love notes. Life just feels better that way!
-Tamara @ Silent Springs
That is such a cute idea for Halloween! I’ve never heard of anyone doing anything like that to celebrate the day. Very neat!
This is such a Great idea!!!! It’s on my facebook and I’m letting as many people know about it as I can!
I love this idea, I’m promoting it myself and really hoping it catches on nationally!
Thanks for sharing! I hope the Made in America Holiday idea and the new Giving Tuesday ideas both spread nationally and create change in the way we celebrate the Holidays in America.
Giving time is always the clear winner over giving money whenever there’s a chance. My favorite local charity is the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House and there are a million ways to get involved, especially during the Holidays. Please consider giving them a call to help make this season a little brighter for the families that are staying in the house while their child receives care for a serious illness.
Jeannette recently posted..Being Green isn’t Just for Moms
Thanks for the recommendation. I’ve heard amazing things about their program!
Very cool. I came to your website via “Good”s article (I’m sure you’ll see the spike in traffic!). I can’t wait to share your graphic with our Facebook page.
CharlieDogs (www.charliedogandfriends.com) is giving away one identical toy for every one we sell in the months of November and December, to a toy drive in West Virginia, in a place where more than half the children under 18 live in poverty. I am planning to get my gifts through your website and others, like Rootz.com, this year.
I can’t help but think this is what the holidays are about. Thanks.
Thanks for visiting and sharing the CharlieDog initiative. I just checked it out and it sounds great!
Mary Kay (made in the USA) has 2 lip colors that when purchased donate to the Mary Kay Foundation helping victims of Domestic Abuse,and you get pretty lips to boot
many of us consultants also donate additionally, like me!
http://www.marykay.com/ChristinaBuckaroo/en-US/About-Mary-Kay/SocialResponsibility/Pages/Good-For-Your-Lips.aspx