Giving Tuesday, conducted nationally this year for the sixth time — the Tuesday after Thanksgiving — is catching on.
The global day of giving, which this year fell on Nov. 28, officially kicks off the charitable season. Based on the actions of Bartholomew County residents, it’s apparent that they consider this an important day.
Local residents responded generously to participating local nonprofit organizations, providing support for them to meet or exceed their fundraising goals.
For example:
Clarity of South Central Indiana hoped donations would match a $40,000 challenge goal of $80,000. The organization, which provides assistance and spiritual guidance for people facing unplanned pregnancies, or treatment for a sexually transmitted disease, instead raised $82,880.
Turning Point Domestic Violence Services raised more than $17,223 of a $25,000 match to reach $50,000 in its “Raise Our Roof” campaign. That was a great head start for its campaign, which lasts through Dec. 31 and will pay for new roofs for its emergency shelter for domestic violence victims and its transitional housing unit.
Columbus resident Lynn Whittington raised $3,360 for the Peyton’s Angels Indiana Chapter of the Cure Starts Now Foundation, an organization formed in honor of her son Peyton, who died from brain cancer at age 5 in 2013, to raise funds for pediatric brain cancer research. What was raised exceeding Whittington’s original goal of $1,000.
Su Casa Columbus had hoped to raise $500 but instead raised $794. The agency, which provides programming, opportunities and service to help the local Latino community, plans to use the money to help clients with needs that have not been met by other agencies.
Foundation for Youth used Giving Tuesday as part of the Newman’s Own Foundation $500,000 challenge in which it is participating through Dec. 31. The organization raised $725, which will go toward scholarships for children whose families may not be able to afford registration fees for programming, with more time to increase its total.
Donors made a significant impact by assisting organizations that do a lot of good for local residents. That’s appreciated, especially at this time of year during the holiday season.
The donations show that the idea of helping your fellow man is alive and well — something that doesn’t have to be limited to Giving Tuesday.
