Black Friday and Cyber Monday campaign ads started two weeks before Thanksgiving. However, another day we like hearing about as well is #GivingTuesday.

At Modern Kids Design, we believe in giving back to our community and working towards protecting the environment. We are a member of 1% for the Planet and are committed to donating to our nonprofit partners. We love what #GivingTuesday represents and believe it’s a message that should spread. While it is still a relatively new event, if you’d like to learn a bit about its history, here it is…

What is #GivingTuesday?

#GivingTuesday was started 4 years ago as a way to kick-start the holiday charitable season. It’s been so successful, that it has led to events throughout the year. Started by Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact in New York City, it has spread across the nation with the goal of encouraging and celebrating giving and volunteerism. The movement has been so popular, it’s gone global.

The hashtag #GivingTuesday brings social media into the mix, allowing participants to share their experiences and encourage others to give back.

#GivingTuesday isn’t just for individuals. If you work for a company, consider getting your organization involved. It’s a great teambuilding experience that helps the community.

When is #GivingTuesday?

#GivingTuesday falls on November 29th this year. It is generally the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving.

Where Can I Volunteer or Donate?

We’re sure your favorite nonprofit would love your support. If you don’t have a local organization to volunteer at, the #GivingTuesday website provides a search of participating groups. Simply input your location to find opportunities near you. There are over 27,000 organizations in their database looking for volunteers and donations. (By the way, if you’re a nonprofit looking for volunteers, you can sign up to join the movement on their website!)

You can also take a look at posts on some of our wonderful nonprofit partners if you’d like. You can learn more about what they do in our nonprofit stories blog posts. Most of our partners focus on environmental issues and healthy living, however, they are diverse in how they handle the topic. Some focus on bringing farm fresh foods to school, while others engage kids in cycling and more. There is quite a range!

Not Just Tuesday

If you aren’t available to donate or volunteer on #GivingTuesday, don’t let that stop you from finding an organization to volunteer at over the weekend or on another day! Get the family involved and make it a fun event. It’s never to early to get out kids involved in giving back.

At Modern Kids Design, giving back is part of who we are. We encourage you to join the movement this #GivingTuesday and kick off the holiday season by supporting your community or your favorite charities.  We hope you enjoyed learning a little more about this annual event. As always, feel free to reach out with feedback or suggestions at healthyliving@modernkidsdesign.com and thanks for reading!