We’ve had Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday (all within the last five days)…and now, in what many might see as a relief (or at least a tiny respite) from all the retail shopping frenzy, comes GivingTuesday.
Today, December 1, 2015, charities, families, businesses, community centers, and students around the world are promoting a day of giving back, which celebrates generosity instead of acquisition.  According to the Giving Tuesday website, “It’s a simple idea. Just find a way for your family, your community, your company or your organization to come together to give something more. Then tell everyone you can about how you are giving” through social media and other channels.
There are no official instructions for Giving Tuesday, which started in 2012, but the organization’s Facebook page advises,”Donate a portion of your savings back to a charity or cause that is important to you. Pay it forward. Like your shopping list, make your giving list for the holidays. Say thanks.”
To make the giving a bit easier, the PayPal service is also getting in on the act, with an official effort to set a new Guiness Book of World Records record for the most charitable donations ever in a single 24-hour period. Â And, of course, donations to 501(c)(3) organizations are tax deductible, so that’s another good reason to give in December, before the end of the tax year.
According to GivingTuesday.org, “When we can freely choose where to place our possessions – money, time, energy – the process of giving becomes a more meaningful experience for the giver and the receiver.”
A good reminder of the true spirit of the holidays before the busy season gets too out of control.
So if you are able, take a moment out from holiday shopping today to breathe…and remember your favorite causes – personal, local, regional, statewide, nationwide or global – in whatever way you can.
