Giving Tuesday

You've heard of Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and even Cyber Monday.　 This year let us introduce you to a new movement rightfully coined "Giving Tuesday". Right on the heels of Thanksgiving Day,　where the　compassion of giving is　often　 overshadowed by the frenzy that is Black Friday, came an　opportunity to　bring focus back to the true reason for the holiday season.

We were fortunate enough to receive coverage about this movement in Delmarva's News Leader WBOC 16 news.  It's never too late to give from the heart.  Visit www.uwde.org to pledge your donation today.

 Here's a copy of the story.  Click here to watch the associated video.

DOVER, Del.- First came Black Friday, then Small Business Saturday. Next came Cyber Monday. And Tuesday, Nov. 27 was "Giving Tuesday."

It is a day that was established to encourage Americans to give from the heart.

Several organizations, like the Delaware State Education Association in Dover, are supporting the United Way.

"We're put here on earth to give and not to take. We find our purpose in life from what we give to our communities and what we give to our neighbors," said Pam Nichols, the DSEA's director of communications.

Giving Tuesday is a campaign to create a national day of giving at the start of the holiday season. The campaign encourages people to give back through volunteering, donating or even raising awareness about an important cause. The campaign has taken the nation by storm through Twitter by using the hashtag #GivingTuesday.

"Everyone's heart wants to give. Too many times they don't know how to give," said Debbie Armstrong of the United Way of Kent County in Dover. 

Armstrong collected workplace contributions on Tuesday from several organizations and businesses.

"Nothing is too small and insignificant to make a difference. Most of the giving here at the United Way of Delaware is done through workplace campaign," said Armstrong.

The Caesar Rodney School District also participated in a workplace campaign raising about $40,000 for the United Way, according to Armstrong.

"It's a subtle reminder to all of us out there that there are people that are in need and if we can do anything - if we can volunteer, if we can donate, if we can contribute, if we can help in any way, today is a great day to do that," said Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald, superintendent of the Caesar Rodney School District.

Chris Crowell, vice president of Playtex Operations at Energizer, also donated to the United Way.

"It behooves us as successful business people to give back to those who help us in the community and those families who can't help us because they're less fortunate," Crowell said. "It's an important message to send. Corporations that are successful because of people, remember people."

This is the first Giving Tuesday event that is going on across the nation.