By Megan Strawther, Development & Communications Associate
For many of us, this past Thanksgiving weekend was not just about turkey, apple pie, and family get-togethers, but it was also the official beginning to the holiday season. Many of us participated in Black Friday and Cyber Monday to get a jump-start on holiday shopping for our loved ones. Yet isn’t it a bit ironic we spend the Thursday of Thanksgiving being grateful for all that we have, only to follow it up with a Friday and Monday full of shopping for more things? Well, now there’s a new trend that encourages all of us to really consider what it means to spend and give over the holidays.
#GivingTuesday is a social media movement that began last year as a coalition of nonprofit organizations that encouraged people to use the Tuesday after Thanksgiving as a day for gift-giving to charities. According to their website, “#GivingTuesday™ is a campaign to create a national day of giving at the start of the annual holiday season. It celebrates and encourages charitable activities that support nonprofit organizations.” The concept was devised as a tradition not centered on shopping, but in finding the deeper, soul-satisfying spirit of the holidays.[1]
At P.S. ARTS, we are so grateful for the many ways individuals choose to give to our organization. Whether it’s your time, talent, or treasure, your gift ALWAYS makes a difference – especially to the 15,000 students we teach every week. In honor of #GivingTuesday, we wanted to share the different ways you can give to our organization to ensure that we continue providing high-quality arts education:
- By giving a gift. You can make a 100% tax-deductible donation, join our Friends of P.S. ARTS membership program for special benefits (including our P.S. ARTS Perks card and access to exclusive events), or shop online at our P.S. ARTS store. Your contributions go directly towards supporting our programs. For just $250, P.S. ARTS is able to provide arts education to one child for an entire school year. With the Internet and social media at our disposal, it’s easier to give now than ever before. With just the click of a mouse, you could help improve a child’s life. Whether you’re able to give $25 or $250 or $2,500, every little bit counts!
- By giving your time. P.S. ARTS holds different community outreach events throughout the year, including Family Art Nights and the annual TakePART in Art Festival, that encourage families and community members to participate in art making together. Our volunteers make sure these events run smoothly and are a success. It’s also a great opportunity to experience our work first-hand in the communities we serve. By volunteering for P.S. ARTS, you help bring our community outreach programs to life.
- By sharing your passion. At P.S. ARTS, we believe that every child deserves a high-quality and well-rounded education. By encouraging others to learn about the work we are doing in our communities, you are helping raise awareness for arts education and the field of education as a whole. It’s as easy as sharing a P.S. ARTS Facebook post or a tweet. The more of us that are in this together, the closer we will come to guaranteeing a great education for all the children in our community.
We love that #GivingTuesday is an opportunity for people to share what they have to help others and build stronger communities. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank each and every one of you for your continued generosity and support of our organization.
Happy Holidays!
[1] Eileen Heisman. “Making #GivingTuesday A Movement.” Harvard Business Review. Web. 29 November 2013.
