On December 1, 2015, Michelle’s Place Breast Cancer Resource Center will participate in the one-day annual giving movement, #GivingTuesday, which focuses on charitable giving after Black Friday and Cyber Monday. #GivingTuesday is a first of its kind effort that will harness the collective power of a unique blend of partners—charities, families, businesses and individuals—to transform how people think about, talk about and participate in the giving season.
Coinciding with the Thanksgiving Holiday and the kickoff of the holiday shopping season, #GivingTuesday will inspire people to take collaborative action to improve their local communities, give back in better, smarter ways to the charities and causes they support and help create a better world. #GivingTuesday will harness the power of social media to create a local movement around the holidays dedicated to giving, similar to how Black Friday and Cyber Monday have become days that are, today, synonymous with holiday shopping.
#GivingTuesday is a counter narrative to Black Friday and Cyber Monday because it reminds us that the spirit of the holiday giving season should be about community and not just consumerism,” said Kim Goodnough, Executive Director for Michelle’s Place. “The most meaningful gift we can give our children, loved ones, friends and neighbors is the commitment to work together to help build a better community.”
Michelle’s Place is taking the #GivingTuesday campaign beyond itself, to collaborate with and educate fellow local nonprofit organizations and ignite a unified giving campaign through crowdfunding, social media campaigns and a celebrated day of giving that the community can get involved in. Anyone, anywhere can get involved in #GivingTuesday and give back in a way that is meaningful to them. From fundraising to volunteering to pro bono service, #GivingTuesday is a great way to engage the community and to become a part of a larger movement that promotes generosity.
Seeing an opportunity to channel the generous spirit of the holiday season and to inspire action around charitable giving, the executives at Michelle’s Place, in conjunction with the SWRC Nonprofit Cooperative, have come together to find ways to promote and celebrate the great American tradition of giving. As thought leaders in philanthropy, social media and grassroots organizing, these nonprofit organizations explore what is working in modern philanthropy and how to expand these innovations throughout the philanthropic sector in the Temecula Valley. The concept gained steam, and with the help of the City of Temecula, local nonprofit organizations have joined the movement and are providing creative ways for the community to embrace #GivingTuesday and collaborate in their giving efforts to create more meaningful results.
“It’s been a privilege to work with remarkable organizations from the Temecula Valley in building this movement around #GivingTuesday,” said Rachel Mason, Executive Director for the Foundation for Senior Care and co-founder of the SWRC Nonprofit Cooperative. “This initiative will bring some much needed attention to our local nonprofit sector to show the community who we are and what amazing programs are offered for those in need. There are many nonprofits within Riverside County that many people don’t know about. We are hoping #GivingTuesday will help change that.”
In the spirit of the “Temecula Has Heart” campaign, #GivingTuesday provides a framework and ideas for people to choose their own best way to contribute to their communities. Through the power of social media, citizens of Temecula have the opportunity to share their giving story to any local nonprofit with the community. As a way to enhance this monumental giving day, the City of Temecula will formally proclaim #GivingTuesday as a day of giving in Temecula. Scheduled for November 10th at 7 p.m., at the Temecula City Council meeting, Mayor Jeff Comerchero will make the official proclamation, marking this December 1st as the first official #GivingTuesday in the City of Temecula.
Those who are interested in donating to Michelle’s Place in this #GivingTuesday initiative can visit www.michellesplace.org/giving-tuesday. For more details about the #GivingTuesday movement, visit the #GivingTuesday website www.givingtuesday.org.