ARTZ Philadelphia Joins #GivingTuesday Movement

ARTZ Philadelphia has joined #GivingTuesday, 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. Taking place December 2, 2014 – the Tuesday after Thanksgiving – #GivingTuesday will harness the power of social media to create a national moment around the holidays dedicated to giving, similar to how Black Friday and Cyber Monday have become days that are, today, synonymous with holiday shopping.

ARTZ PHILADELPHIA HAS JOINED #GIVINGTUESDAY BECAUSE IN THREE SHORT YEARS, #GIVINGTUESDAY HAS BECOME ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT GIVING DAYS OF THE YEAR – AROUND THE WORLD — FOR NON-PROFITS.

ACCORDING TO ARTZ PHILADELPHIA DIRECTOR SUSAN SHIFRIN,

“AT THE SAME TIME, #GIVINGTUESDAY IS A DAY WITH HEART, A CALL TO ACTION TO ALL OF US LEST WE FORGET THAT IT IS JUST AS IMPORTANT TO GIVE BACK TO OTHERS ON THIS DAY, THAT GIVING IS EVERY BIT AS POWERFUL AS ‘GETTING.’”

TWO GENEROUS DONORS HAVE PLEDGED TO MATCH THE FIRST $7,500 RAISED BY ARTZ PHILADELPHIA ON #GIVINGTUESDAY TO BENEFIT PEOPLE LIVING WITH DEMENTIA AND THEIR CARE PARTNERS.

Seeing an opportunity to channel the generous spirit of the holiday season to inspire action around charitable giving, a group of friends and partners, led by the 92nd Street Y (92Y), came together to find ways to promote and celebrate the great American tradition of giving. Thought leaders in philanthropy, social media and grassroots organizing joined with 92Y to explore what is working in modern philanthropy and how to expand these innovations throughout the philanthropic sector. The concept gained steam, and with the help of the United Nations Foundation and other founding partners, more than 10,000 organizations have joined the movement and are providing creative ways people can embrace #GivingTuesday and collaborate in their giving efforts to create more meaningful results. “It’s been a privilege to work with remarkable leaders all over the country building a movement around #GivingTuesday,” said Henry Timms, 92Y’s Executive Director. “This initiative has truly been crowdsourced by some of the smartest and most connected minds among the next generation of philanthropists and entrepreneurs.” Currently, more than 16,000 corporate and nonprofit organizations have committed to participate in the initiative. “#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 Kathy Calvin, CEO of the UN Foundation. “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 world.” Those who are interested in joining ARTZ PHILADELPHIA’s #GivingTuesday initiative can learn more by going to the ARTZ Philadelphia Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ARTZPhiladelphia, where the organization will be updating its efforts several times a day between now and December 2nd, and where those wishing to support ARTZ Philadelphia’s work will find the link to the organization’s #GivingTuesday landing page. For more details about the #GivingTuesday movement, visit the #GivingTuesday website (www.givingtuesday.org), Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/GivingTuesday) or follow #GivingTuesday (https://twitter.com/GivingTues) and the #GivingTuesday hashtag on Twitter