Although Thanksgiving is a day of food, family, and most importantly, thankfulness, over the past few years, the holiday has been overshadowed by commercialism and consumerism due to post-Thanksgiving activities. As the years go by, Black Friday and Cyber Monday have gained more attention from consumers. In 2012, the Belfer Center for Innovation and Social Impact at the 92nd Street Y – a cultural center in New York City that values service and giving back – created #GivingTuesday to kick off the charitable season as the end of the year approaches.
This social media movement, known as #GivingTuesday for social media activism, encourages and supports giving and philanthropy by connecting individuals, communities, and organizations around the world. In 2016, according to USA Today, #GivingTuesday broke a record by raising $168 million dollars in charitable donations around the world. Since its inaugural year in 2012, participation has increased by 317%.
Organizations are encouraged to launch their own localized #GivingTuesday movement, and this year Metro Drug Coalition is participating. The #ReverseTheStatistic movement raises awareness of the effects of drug, alcohol, and tobacco use while encouraging donations to work towards fighting these addictions. Like many small nonprofits, MDC’s success is due largely to the generosity of its donors. We hope that today you will consider making a #GivingTuesday donation to Metro Drug Coalition and partner with us in fighting the substance abuse epidemic in our community.