If you have ever been on the internet the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday, you might have seen the hashtag Giving Tuesday. After getting great deals on your holiday wish lists, GivingTuesday encourages a spirit of generosity to support those in our communities with the most need.

The concept of #GivingTuesday was created based on the principle of radical generosity: That other people suffering is just as intolerable as our own suffering. Created in 2012, #GivingTuesday had one simple goal in mind – to encourage people to do good. Today, the #GivingTuesday movement inspires worldwide philanthropy, encourages dedicated volunteer movements, and raises over $500 million a year for global needs.

According to the movement’s website, “GivingTuesday strives to build a world in which the catalytic power of generosity is at the heart of the society we build together, unlocking dignity, opportunity, and equity around the globe.”

Over the past nine years, the hashtag has turned into a global phenomenon. The impactful Tuesday always follows Thanksgiving in the US, even though other countries participate. This year it falls on November 30th.

You can find #givingtuesday on nearly every social media platform. Some of these platforms, such as Instagram and Facebook, encourage donations and peer to peer fundraising by paying processing fees for organizations and providing donation matches. You can create your own #GivingTuesday Facebook fundraiser for ADEC by clicking here.

You can also join this global movement by supporting ADEC and your neighbors living with intellectual and developmental disabilities through donations online, peer-to-peer fundraising, or through the generous gift of time and talent.

For more information on how to support ADEC, please reach out the Community Outreach Team by email at [email protected] or by calling 574-848-7451.