Giving Tuesday: Cyber Monday And Black Friday Get Charitable Competition

It’s almost Thanksgiving and you know what that means… It’s Time For A Shopping Spree!!! Millions of Americans will search for deals on Black Friday and Cyber Monday this year but the United Nations Foundation is encouraging people to participate in a new charitable holiday, Giving Tuesday.

Giving Tuesday, which encourages people to “give as good as they get,” will occur on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving.

According to the Giving Tuesday website, the idea for the new holiday came from New York’s 92nd Street Y. The United Nations Foundation partnered with the local nonprofit and soon organizations like DoSomething.Org, GiveCorps, and World Vision were on board.

Sarah Renusch, World Vision’s Gift Catalog Director, said:

“Giving Tuesday is intended to open the holiday season on a philanthropic note and put heart back into the holidays … World Vision is encouraging Americans to dedicate this day to getting back to the true meaning of the holidays. It is about community not commercialism, giving not receiving.”

There are several ways to participate in Giving Tuesday. From donating to a charity to working at a local soup kitchen, people are encouraged to simply give back to their communities on Giving Tuesday.

The website reads:

“On Tuesday November 27, 2012, charities, families, businesses and individuals are coming together to transform the way people think about, talk about and participate in the giving season. It’s a simple idea. Find a way for your family, your community, your company or your organization to join in acts of giving. Tell everyone you can about what you are doing and why it matters. Join a national celebration of our great tradition of generosity.”

Volunteering at a local charity is a great way to participate in the new holiday but you can also participate in Giving Tuesday without every leaving your home. Just like on Cyber Monday, you can do all of your shopping / giving online. World Vision, for instance, will be making it easy to donate to Hurricane Sandy victims on Giving Tuesday.

Renusch adds:

“Americans have a glorious tradition of philanthropy. It’s my hope Giving Tuesday will become a new, sustainable American tradition that we will celebrate every year.”

What do you think about Giving Tuesday? Will it be as popular as Cyber Monday and Black Friday?