An Idea to Chew on This Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a time when families gather together to celebrate what they are most grateful for from good health to strong friendships to their team winning the afternoon football game. In recent years, this celebration has become overshadowed by the days that follow: Black Friday and Cyber Monday, the official start of the holiday shopping season. This year, another voice has been added to the holiday season.
Ripon College has joined #GivingTuesday, a first of its kind initiative that combines the drive of a diverse blend of partners—charities, families, businesses and individuals—to change how people think about, talk about and participate in the giving season.
Coinciding with Thanksgiving and the kickoff of the holiday season with Black Friday, #GivingTuesday hopes to inspire people to take collaborative action to improve their local communities, give back to the charities and causes they support, and help create a better world. Taking place on November 27, 2012, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, #GivingTuesday is attempting to show that holiday shopping can be about both giving and giving back.
“#GivngTuesday has a simple aim: to establish a national day of giving during the holiday seasons of gratitude and generosity of spirit that will inspire Americans young and old, online and offline, red and blue, urban and rural…The aim is simple and the mission undeniably good: to increase charitable giving by all Americans,” notes Rob Reich, co-director of the Center for Philanthropy and Civil Society at Stanford University.
#GivingTuesday is a unique campaign in that it is based completely off of social media. The idea was conceived by a team of recognized experts and influencers from various nonprofits across the country. #GivingTuesday has no staff of its own nor does it have an office. Promoted, shared, and executed through social media and email, this campaign relies on partners across the nation to hold their own #GivingTuesday initiate.
At Ripon College, the Office of Community Engagement will be hosting three off-campus service projects during the day. In the morning, students can visit Prairie Place, an assisted living facility and visit with the residents. In the afternoon, students can volunteer at Ripon Public Library and Community Thrift Store. Throughout the day, there will be small service projects on campus that students may drop in at between classes.
Ripon College was the first organization in Wisconsin to partner with #GivingTuesday. As of Sunday, there were over 800 partners country-wide. Each week, new organizations join the movement and share creative ways people can embrace #GivingTuesday.
“#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, one of #GivingTuesday’s founding partners. “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.”
For more details about the #GivingTuesday movement, visit the #GivingTuesday website (givingtuesday.org), Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/GivingTuesday) or follow #GivingTuesday (https://twitter.comGivingTues).
For more information about Ripon College’s #GivingTuesday initiative or to sign up in advance for a service project, contact Lori Schroeder at schroederl@ripon.edu.
The Office of Community Engagement works to provide students with opportunities to give back in the community. For more information, visit OCE on the second floor of Harwood Memorial Union or email oce@ripon.edu.
