Thanksgiving typically marks the beginning of the holiday season for many American families. After spending Thursday with their families celebrating what they are thankful for, many consumers spend the next few days scoping out deals for Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday.
Six years ago, a new trend began on social media: #GivingTuesday. According to its website, #GivingTuesday is a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration. In other words, #GivingTuesday is the “Cyber Monday” for charities and nonprofit organizations. Hundreds of organizations participate, including many veterans and military organizations.
They include:
The Fisher House Foundation: For every dollar raised through Facebook on Nov. 28, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will match up to $50,000.
The Fisher House Foundation is a nonprofit that is best-known for providing a network of comfort homes where military and veterans’ families can stay at no cost while a loved one is receiving treatment.
Montel Williams (Twitter)
K9s For Warriors: The Hall-Halliburton Foundation will be matching donations to K9s For Warriors on Nov. 28. They have a goal of reaching $200,000.
K9s For Warriors is dedicated to providing service canines to our Warriors suffering from post-traumatic stress disability, traumatic brain injury, and/or military sexual trauma as a result of military service post-9/11. Their goal for #GivingTuesday is to raise $100,000 in 24 hours for the Reinforcement Fund, a special project that will cover emergency healthcare costs for warriors’ service dogs.
United Service Organizations (USO): Johnson & Johnson will be matching all donations up to $450,000 for the USO, a nonprofit that works to strengthens America’s military service members by keeping them connected to family, home and country, throughout their service to the nation. Vineyard Vines also partnered with the USO and is offering a 20-percent discount to customers on Tuesday, and will be donating some of their profits to the organization.
Vineyard Vines (Website)
Gary Sinise Foundation: An anonymous donor pledged to match all donations made on #GivingTuesday up to $125,000.
The Gary Sinise Foundation works to serve the nation by honoring our defenders, veterans, first responders, their families and those in need. They do this by creating and supporting unique programs designed to entertain, educate, inspire, strengthen and build communities.
Wounded Warrior Project: The Wounded Warrior Project has been using #GivingTuesday to try and win a challenge by the Newsman’s Own Foundation.
The charity that receives the most money in donations on Nov. 28 will receive $50,000 from the Newman’s Own Foundation.
Wounded Warrior Project (Twitter)
Elizabeth Dole Foundation: For every donation made to the Elizabeth Dole Foundation between Nov. 28 and Dec. 31, Philips North America will double the amount.
The Elizabeth Dole Foundation seeks to empower military caregivers by strengthening services through research, innovation and collaboration.
Elizabeth Dole Foundation (Twitter)
Soldiers’ Angels: Soldiers’ Angels is also participating in the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Facebook promotion. All donations up to $50,000 will be matched by the foundation.
Soldiers’ Angels is a volunteer-led nonprofit with hundreds of thousands of volunteers providing aid and comfort to the men and women of the United States Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, veterans and their families
