Giving Tuesday – a message that circled the globe

By Cliff Yankovich | Contributing writer

Eleven years ago, an idea to promote giving was hatched at the 92nd Street YMCA in New York City. In the decade since, the simple message of Giving Tuesday has spread across the US and around the world. The foundation for the movement was simple and brilliant: Make Tuesday a day that encourages people to do good and to celebrate generosity.

What began in a YMCA meeting on the East Coast has now spawned a global network of people collaborating all year-round to inspire the spirit of giving, with a mission to make generosity part of everyday life. What a great mission statement.

Giving Tuesday – a message that circled the globe The annual Giving Tuesday will be observed on November 28th this year. Many people have heard about the annual observance in the news or maybe as a reminder from a charity or non-profit group that they support. In the Lowell area, we might hear about Giving Tuesday from one of the many non-profits that make our town special, like Lowell Arts, Flat River Outreach Ministries, Pink Arrow Pride, or our Historical Museum. One of the most powerful aspects of my favorite small town ties in nicely with this subject, Lowell is a generous community.

When bragging about Lowell, it is fun to tick-off some examples of our giving nature, like Food Fight, Pink Arrow Pride, that has been copied around Michigan and across the country, or the Englehardt Fund that has benefitted our community in so many ways. We have Senior Neighbors, a Gilda’s Club, and the waiting list to get into Schneider Manor is very, very long. Every
year, the Look Foundation gives away thousands of dollars to area non-profits.

Our small town gives BIG. When it comes to giving, it is not all about the money, even if that is the measuring stick that usually comes to mind. Donating money was not the beginning and ending the people who started Giving Tuesday had in mind, far from it. They promote and encourage all kinds of giving and sharing. Their broad concept includes something as simple as sharing a kind or encouraging thought with a neighbor or friend. Another idea they promote is volunteerism. When we give our time to causes or groups that help people, animals or the planet in general, we can do our part in making the world a better place for everyone. When you think about any of the organizations that make Lowell special, almost all of them are volunteer-powered.

Look behind the scenes at FROM or Lowell Arts and you will see small armies of men, women, and kids who give of their time,
talent and energy on a regular basis to keep such organizations moving ahead and helping the community in general. It is fairly safe to say that any of the organizations in our area, that help in some way, would welcome you, your time, and talents as enthusiastically as they would welcome a monetary donation.

The internet opens up even more opportunities to give on any Tuesday. Maybe your schedule or life situation does not allow you the free time to consistently donate hours or days. There are a myriad of ways to “give” that do not require such commitments. Do you love and want to protect the Great Lakes?

Get involved with one of the many organizations who feel the same way. Send emails to elected officials encouraging them
to consider what is best for our environment, when they face certain issues. Simply helping to spread the word on social media, about an issue that touches or enriches your life, can be a form of giving.

Something as simple as an email that offers thanks and/or encouragement to someone you know is a form of giving that will bring a smile to both the sender and the recipient. The folks behind Giving Tuesday would greatly appreciate you tagging your online efforts with the hashtag #GivingTuesday.

A great place to launch your Giving Tuesday efforts would be to spend some time at their website: www. GivingTuesday.org.
Their web pages are loaded with examples of giving that have nothing to do with money. One page I landed on has this great message: “Every act of generosity counts and everyone has something to give.”

One of the best parts of any act of kindness or generosity is that you will benefit as much, or even more, than the person, cause, or
organization to which you gave. There are multitudes of studies that clearly demonstrate the benefits can impact givers. It can activate the reward center in your brain. Generosity and giving will reduce stress, make you feel happier, and in general, improve your life satisfaction. Pick a Tuesday, any Tuesday, and do what you can do to turn it into a Giving Tuesday.