Today is Giving Tuesday! What is it? They say:
“We have a day for giving thanks. We have two for getting deals. This year help us create #GivingTuesday. A new day for giving back. On Tuesday December 3, 2013, global charities, families, businesses, community centers, students and more will come together to create #GivingTuesday.
It’s a simple idea. Just find a way for your family, your community, your company or your organization to come together to give something more. Then tell everyone you can about how you are giving. Be a part of a national celebration of our great tradition of generosity.”
Giving Tuesday provides links to countless charities and you can learn about their missions and beneficiaries. Check it out and pass it on!
What am I doing for #GivingTuesday? I’m spreading the word about Cycle for Survival. Cycle for Survival is the indoor team cycling event that raises funds for rare cancer research. 100% of the funds go directly to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and are allocated within six months of each event. Events are held in February and March in New York, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, DC, NJ and Miami. I signed up in Chicago for the 3rd time (and my 2nd as captain of the “Erica Finds” team). [See last year’s recap HERE.] Last year, Cycle for Survival raised over 14 million dollars to help cure rare cancers and this years the goal is even higher!
I also plan to make charitable gifts for some holiday presents. If you have any family members or friends that you are giving charitable gifts in honor of this year for the holidays, consider making them today so that #GivingTuesday is a success!
Last thing, I will donate to the Passports with Purpose fundraiser again. If you know me, or read this blog, you know that I LOVE supporting good causes and I also LOVE a chance to win things. Two years ago, I came across the Passports with Purpose fundraiser for Room to Read, an organization that supports literacy programs in the developing world. Passports with Purpose is an annual travel bloggers’ fundraiser with a chance to win great prizes with as little as a $10 donation. As I always say, you have to be in it to win it! Last year, I won a 3 night stay at Jicaro Lodge near Granada, Nicaragua from Ever the Nomad! We went last week and it was AMAZING! Our donation supported water.org.
This year’s fundraiser aims to raise raise $115,000 for buildOn to construct three schools and fund three adult literacy programs in the Sikasso region of southern Mali, Africa.
Go to this link to give/enter the raffle. They have an amazing line up of prizes and just a $10 donation gives you a shot at getting one of them. Proceeds go directly to buildOn, so it’s also tax deductible — and is likely meet your employer’s matching guidelines if you’ve got that option. (That would be a WIN-WIN-WIN!)
In honor of Giving Tuesday, I am going to host a giveaway to encourage readers to share information on the important organizations that they support and consider checking out my Cycle for Survival team fundraiser and the Passports with Purpose fundraiser. The prizes are all items that I purchased with rewards points, received as promotional items or received as gifts. None of these items is furnished by the vendor. Why am I offering them? Why not?
The prizes:
- A Suunto M5 Multi-Sport Heart Rate Monitor/Watch ($149 value)
- Stella and Dot Soho Wristlet in Black Patent Leather ($68 value)
- One $25 Walmart Gift Card
- One pair of Yurbud Inspire Sports Headphones (small – for women in pink) ($29.99 value)
- Two $5 Starbucks Gift Cards (One per winner)
Please use the Rafflecopter below to enter. Winners must be in the US and 18 year of age or older. Void where prohibited. The raffle will be open through 12/11. Winners will be selected and notified on 12/12. Winners may select prizes they would like from the remaining prizes in the order they are drawn. Good luck!
What are you doing to celebrate Giving Tuesday?