Local Non-profits Unite for Giving Tuesday Movement Dec 3

There is more to the holiday season than searching for the best deals on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Nineteen area non-profits are teaming up to promote Giving Tuesday, 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. Giving Tuesday takes place December 3, 2013, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, and will use the power of social media to create a national campaign around the holidays dedicated to giving.
 
Shelter House and Food For Thought learned about Giving Tuesday and wanted to be part of the movement. Beyond merely being involved, the leadership of both organizations reached out to other area non-profits and asked them to join this call to action, culminating in a significant local collaboration.
 
“It has been wonderful working with the remarkable non-profit leaders in our area on Giving Tuesday,” said Michelle Sperzel, Shelter House Executive Director. “We hope to inspire a day of service, kindness and philanthropy. Together we are building a stronger community.”

Currently, the following Okaloosa and Walton County organizations have committed to participate in the initiative:  The Boys and Girls Club of the Emerald Coast (bgcec.com), Children’s Advocacy Center, Children’s Volunteer Health Network (cvhnkids.org), Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (culturalartsalliance.com), Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation (dcwaf.org), Emerald Coast Autism Center (ecautismcenter.org), Family Life Ministries (familylife-sozo.org), Food For Thought Outreach (foodforthoughtfl.org), Habitat for Humanity of Walton County (waltoncountyhabitat.org), Horizons (horizonsfwb.com), Judge Ben Gordon Visitation Center (familyvisitationcenters.org), Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation (mattiekellyartsfoundation.org), Mental Health Association (mhaow.org), Opportunity Place (okaloosawaltonhomeless.org), Shelter House (shelterhousenwfl.org), Taylor Haugen Foundation (taylorhaugen.org), White-Wilson (white-wilson.com) and Youth Village (nelliesyouthvillage.org).
 
“A Giving Tuesday fundamental is that non-profits can work as a whole to accomplish our individual goals whatever they might be – volunteerism, special events, membership growth or campaign fundraising,” said Jennifer Steele, Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County Executive Director.  “The CAA is honored to work along-side such important organizations to further this movement.”
 
The Cultural Arts Alliance will launch an end of year giving campaign in conjunction with Giving Tuesday; The Destin Charity Wine Auction will introduce its inaugural Fore Kids Golf Tournament at Santa Rosa Golf and Beach Club on December 3rd; and Food For Thought will hold a one-day food drive with the goal to restock their pantry and collect 3,000 food donations this day.

To find out what each non-profit will be doing on December 3rd visit www.givingtuesdaynwf.org or each non-profit’s website.

“Giving Tuesday reminds us that the spirit of the holiday giving season should be about community,” said Tiffanie Shelton, Executive Director/Founder Food For Thought. “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.”
 
GivingTuesday is a movement to celebrate and provide incentives to give. It will culminate with a global day of giving on December 3, 2013. This effort harnesses 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. 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 celebrate and help create a better world. Through social media, GivingTuesday will create a global moment that is dedicated to giving around the world. 
 
A team of recognized experts and influencers, initially convened by leaders of 92nd Street Y and supported by a core group of founding partners, originally spearheaded this effort. Founding partners in 2012 included United Nations Foundation, DonorsChoose.org, Mashable, Blackbaud, charity: water, GlobalGiving, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), Kiva, Darden Restaurant Group, Groupon, Unilever and VentureThree Capital. Leaders in philanthropy, social media, innovative giving, grassroots organizing, marketing and communications are providing counsel and resources to help build this movement.