This holiday season, local charities and non-profits are hoping you’ll consider stuffing something extra in their stockings, too. On Dec. 1, they’ll participate in Giving Tuesday Berks, a day set aside to celebrate the importance of giving back to the organizations making a difference in our community. “Giving Tuesday isn’t just about giving money,” says Keri Shultz, executive director of the Reading Musical Foundation. “Organizations need volunteers and in-kind gifts to make their programs successful.”
#GivingTuesday
Founded in 2012, Giving Tuesday follows Black Friday and Cyber Monday at the start of the holiday shopping season. The day has become an innovative and popular way for charities, families, businesses, community centers and students around the world to partner for one common purpose: to celebrate generosity and to give.
Hundreds of cities participate in Giving Tuesday, generating support for more than 30,000 organizations around the world, according to the national Giving Tuesday website. Locally, a coalition of 29 nonprofit organizations tapped into the national movement and established Giving Tuesday Berks last year. Led by the Berks County Community Foundation, the organizations collaborated and used social media to share messages about each other’s services.
“We hope that this movement raises awareness about the importance of the work that local nonprofits do and that it inspires people to give at least some gifts where they are needed,” says Jason Brudereck, communications director at the community foundation. “Several of our participants saw great benefits from Giving Tuesday last year, particularly the Animal Rescue League, which raised several thousand dollars. But other groups weren’t able to capitalize on the effort like we had hoped, so we’ve tried to increase the profile of the movement this year.”
Close to home
This year, the number of organizations participating in Giving Tuesday Berks has grown to nearly 70, Brudereck says. The list includes non-profits that help feed and clothe the poor, revitalize areas, serve meals to the elderly, keep kids physically active, support artists and provide learning opportunities.
“Giving Tuesday isn’t really about making a single donation,” Shultz says. “It’s about changing the giving culture in communities. This is the chance for individuals to look around and, in a single shot, appreciate all the good work that happens in Berks County every single day because of nonprofits. Also, while many of us know the ‘big’ nonprofits in Berks, Giving Tuesday gives an opportunity to the ‘small-shop’ organizations that rarely get a public platform to share their story.”
Reading Musical Foundation, which provides much-needed scholarship support for music students, is a perfect example of an organization that benefits from the Giving Tuesday movement, Shultz adds.
“We work quietly behind the scenes to ensure students have access to quality education in their school music programs,” she says. “Giving Tuesday allows us to the take the time and gives us the megaphone to share our work across Berks County.”
Get involved
There are several ways residents can get involved with Giving Tuesday Berks, Brudereck says.
Visit the Giving Tuesday Berks website and make an online donation to any of the participating organizations.
Social media savvy residents can support the day by sharing posts and pictures about the organizations. Be sure to use the #GivingTuesdayBerks hashtag, he adds.
“Pop in” at any of the participating organizations, which will host fun events on Giving Tuesday as a way to showcase their services. A full list of events will be posted on the Giving Berks Tuesday website as they’re planned.
Tune into WEEU-AM Radio. Mike Faust will host a special live “pop-in” event at a surprise location, which will be announced later this month.
For more information, visit givingtuesdayberks.com.
Where to Give
Participating Berks organizations in 2015 include:
1. Berks County Community Foundation2. Opportunity House3. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Berks County4. Greater Berks Food Bank5. Berks Encore6. United Way of Berks County7. Literacy Council of Reading-Berks8. YMCA of Reading & Berks County9. BCTV10. Family Promise of Berks County11. Berks Coalition to End Homelessness12. Olivet Boys & Girls Club13. Building A Better Boyertown14. Studio B15. Children's Home of Reading16. Mary's Shelter17. Boyertown Area Multi-Service18. Berks VNA (Visiting Nurse Association)19. Reading Bike Hub20. Miller-Keystone Blood Center21. Animal Rescue League of Berks County22. Bernadine Franciscan Sisters23. Reading Public Library24. Missionary Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart25. Reading Musical Foundation26. John Paul II Center for Special Learning27. Prospectus Berco28. Jewish Federation of Reading29. Berks Opera Company30. Berks Women in Crisis31. Genesius Theatre32. Little Acts of Love33. United Community Services34. Humane Society of Berks County35. Gilmore | Henne Community Fund36. Junior League of Reading37. Easter Seals Eastern Pennsylvania38. Berks T1D Connection39. Berks Nature40. BCPS/Berks Connections41. Co-County Wellness Services42. Children's Alopecia Project43. Reading Public Museum44. Mentors for Berks Youth45. Reading Recreation Commission46. Community Prevention Partnership of Berks County47. Northern Berks Community Garden48. MidPenn Legal Services49. Colebrookdale Railroad50. Bridge of Hope51. New Person Ministries52. Habitat for Humanity of Berks County53. Vision Resource Center for Berks County54. Berks History Center55. Family First Resource Center56. Berks Community Health Center57. Greater Reading Mental Health Alliance58. Reading School District59. Reading Pops Orchestra60. West Reading Community Revitalization Foundation61. Boyertown Lyons EMS62. Save Our Boyertown Town Clock Foundation63. Clare of Assisi House64. Reading Berks Conference of Churches65. Junior Achievement of Southeastern PA66. Big Vision Foundation67. IM ABLE Foundation68. Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania
