Black Friday and Cyber Monday are all about shopping and millions of people weather the elements, sacrifice sleep, and otherwise dedicate time and effort online or on foot seeking out bargains on everything from electronics to clothing. These days committed to shopping have a long and colorful past, but a few years ago, another day was established; one dedicated to giving back and helping important causes. The day is Giving Tuesday, held each year since 2012, right after Black Friday and Cyber Monday, following the Thanksgiving holiday.
Here at Great Beer Now, we are champions of giving and this blog is one of the few beer sites I know that even has “charity” as a separate category and tag for posting purposes. Many who follow Great Beer Now know well that giving is a regularly occurring theme in the posts. Just yesterday, for example, I talked about the Wild West Brew Fest, a beer festival heled each year in Katy, Texas that is 100 percent charity- focused and an event for which Great Beer Now is an official sponsor.
Giving Tuesday is an excellent means to bring attention to the importance of giving back and with so many thousands of non- profit organizations, there is bound to a be a cause that parallels perfectly with your own top concerns. Often, there are important and extremely worthy non- profit organizations right where you live, that you are not even aware exist. A good tool to find charities that are associated with specific causes, locations, etc. is the web site Charity Navigator. This service makes it easy to pinpoint a cause, examine its finances, see how they stack up against other charities in terms of transparency, solvency, etc., and make a quick donation. You can do all of this at Charity Navigator, a one stop shop for charitable giving.
Beer lovers are often quite generous, giving of their time and money to different causes. As we all know, charitable giving and community are a strong component of craft breweries across the nation and it is common for breweries to name official charities, sponsor official fund raisers, and assist charities in support of their work. I can think of several local breweries, right now, that have named official charities and that feature monthly giving, canned food drives, coastal cleanups, and otherwise encourage others to donate goods and cash to important causes.
Giving can take on many forms. Volunteering at a local food bank, working to clean up a seashore, and simply sending a cash payment to a non- profit organization are among the many ways to get involved. Just earlier today, Great Beer Now donated money to two important causes: The Student Conservation Association and the National Foundation for Cancer Research. These were both cash donations, made securely online, and in typical Giving Tuesday fashion, both charities had matching gift deals for any donation made today, adding additional, critically needed funds to two important charitable efforts.
Giving Tuesday is a celebration of philanthropy and the American spirit. Shopping for holiday bargains is, and always will be, an important part of the holiday season. But giving is equally important so do what you can to make this Giving Tuesday the most successful it can be. The planet Earth and its inhabitants are counting on you, so show your generosity and pledge funds or schedule a volunteer effort today!
I love that you guys have a charity and you guys donate. Ir’s such a beautiful thing.
Thank you for this reminder. I wasn’t aware Giving Tuesday was a thing but I used to volunteer at a food center for the homeless and it was a great experience. I’ve been meaning to get back to that and have just volunteered at a center near me. Well wishes to all.