Today, United Way of Central Maryland and many of its local funded partners join #GivingTuesday™—a national effort that will launch the giving season and that is transforming philanthropy into something easy, achievable and trendy.
Last week, shoppers crowded stores for Black Friday and Small Business Saturday, the first days of the holiday shopping season. And on Monday, thousands took advantage of Cyber Monday online shopping sales. This year, for the first time, charities have put their stake in the ground to create a new tradition that celebrates giving back with #GivingTuesday™—the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, when organizations, families, businesses and individuals come together to support the causes they care about most.
Locally, United Way of Central Maryland (UWCM) will serve as the giving portal for its Baltimore County Fund, Access to Healthy Food and Family Stability initiatives, 2-1-1 Maryland at UWCM, and for its local funded partners—health and human service organizations serving people living at or near the federal poverty level in central Maryland. (See the list of 55 participating organizations below.)
“While no one person acting alone can solve tough social issues like homelessness and hunger, United Way consistently demonstrates that, acting together, people can make a real difference in the lives of the less fortunate,” said Mark Furst, president and CEO of UWCM. “Individuals giving to United Way of Central Maryland on #GivingTuesday™ can rely on the money being directed to help those facing poverty locally get and stay out of crisis and move to self-sufficiency.”
#GivingTuesday™ is becoming a digital phenomenon, and is an indication of how charitable giving is changing in the world of new media. Giving transactions will occur primarily online, and promotion of the effort has come to life mostly via social media. Giving among young people, many of whom are new to the world of philanthropy, is also expected to be high on #GivingTuesday™.
“The days following Thanksgiving historically have centered on buying gifts for family or friends—or shopping for yourself,” said Elise Lee, UWCM’s chief development officer. “#GivingTuesday™ is a national celebration of generosity to kick off the holiday giving season. There is nothing more powerful for our neighbors in need than the impact of the collective.”
For more information on how to become a part of the inaugural #GivingTuesday™, please visit uwcm.org/giving-tuesday.
Participating organizations include:
American Heart Association
Anne Arundel County CASA
Arundel House of Hope
Associated Black Charities
Boys & Girls Clubs of Harford County
Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Baltimore
Bridges to Housing Stability
Caroline Friess Center
Carroll Food Sunday
Center for Urban Families
Civic Works
Domestic Violence Center of Howard County
Family League of Baltimore
Food Link
Fuel Fund of Maryland
Future Harvest
Good Shepherd Center
Govans Ecumenical Development Corporation
Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center
Habitat for Humanity Susquehanna
Habitat of the Chesapeake
Harford Community Action
Harford Family House
Health Care for the Homeless
HealthCare Access Maryland
House of Ruth Maryland
Legal Aid Bureau
Light House
Living Classrooms Foundation
Marian House
Maryland Center for Veterans Education and Training
Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault
Maryland Food Bank
Maryland Society for Sight
Mason-Dixon Community Services
Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland
Middle Grades Partnership
Neighbor Ride
Night of Peace Family Shelter
PACT: Helping Children with Special Needs
Partners in Care
Paul’s Place
Project PLASE
Prologue
Salvation Army, Greater Baltimore Area
St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore
The Arc of the Central Chesapeake Region
The Samaritan Women
The Sexual Assault/Spouse Abuse Resource Center (SARC)
The Women's Law Center of Maryland
TurnAround
United Way of Central Maryland
Urban Alliance
Women's Housing Coalition
YWCA of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County
