Giving Tuesday is a day when nonprofit organizations, civic organizations, businesses and corporations and families and individuals can come together and donate to good causes. According to givingtuesday.org, the organization just had its fourth successful year.
According to the website, “Since its inaugural year in 2012, #GivingTuesday has become a movement that
celebrates and supports giving and philanthropy with events throughout the year.” Giving Tuesday takes place the Tuesday after Thanksgiving and is the beginning of the giving season.
The university’s UIndy for Riley participated in Giving Tuesday. President of UIndy for Riley Allie Bishop said she has known about Giving Tuesday for several years now.
“What got me thinking about doing something personal [for Giving Tuesday] with our own club, was Riley Foundation doing their own thing,” Bishop said. “We wanted to take our own creative spin on it, and it was also 66 days until the dance marathon, which is our biggest event [that] we host.”
Bishop also said that Giving Tuesday could not have come at a better time.
“Since it was only 66 days until the dance marathon, I challenged everyone to raise $66,” Bishop said. “We ended up raising just shy of $400 dollars on [Giving Tuesday]. And by the next day, we had raised $600 in donations.”
Bishop said the use of social media helped with fundraising. She challenged the committee to post on social media and send emails and created the slogan “Give the gift of hope” to help raise money and spread awareness of UIndy for Riley.
Bishop said the reason for the group’s participation in Giving Tuesday was not just because Riley itself was participating.
“Riley encourages us, and we are always searching for creative ways for people to want to donate to Riley and to spread the word about the dance marathon,” Bishop said.
A good number of people participated in the UIndy for Riley Giving Tuesday fundraiser, according to Bishop. The executive board has 17 people and the committee as a whole has 30. There were about 10 members who met the $66 goal that Bishop challenged them to.
Bishop was impressed overall with the outcome of Giving Tuesday.
“We raised the most [money] we’ve raised in a single day. We are always happy to get any kind of donation we can. It is definitely a good amount to raise in one day.”
Bishop also thinks Giving Tuesday is a good day to celebrate, and she wishes that there was more awareness of Giving Tuesday.
“Personally, I think the timing couldn’t be more perfect with the holidays,” Bishop said. “But also, after the whole Black Friday spectacle, I think people get a little selfish, and this is a good reminder about what the holidays are really about. On top of that, just to be able to give back to something that’s right in our backyard. … It’s also great to be able to help a hospital that serves our nation.”
