Today is Giving Tuesday! Here's what that means and what you can do:
In a 2020 that, for many, was filled with strife and struggle, this year’s Giving Tuesday presents a welcome opportunity to give back and offer gratitude and support to causes near and dear.
What officially began in 2012 as a response to the retail-focused Black Friday and Cyber Monday events has grown over the years into an international movement that encourages citizens worldwide to do good.
Giving Tuesday was initially founded by New York’s 92nd Street Y in partnership with the United Nations Foundation, and last summer became its very own organization, with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and PayPal.
This year’s Giving Tuesday falls on Dec. 1, and there are plenty of organizations where your dollar will go a lot farther than it usually would.
The New York Public Library, for example, is matching donations dollar-for-dollar on Giving Tuesday, as is Special Olympics Massachusetts and the Humane Society, up to $250,000.
Other organizations, like the Make-a-Wish Foundation, will triple donations made on Giving Tuesday.
UNICEF, meanwhile, is hosting a virtual fundraiser at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, which will feature performances by Katy Perry,Pink, Liam Payne and more.
I'll be donating today to the Salvation Army and Make-a-Wish if you're looking to donate to some local places.