As Americans, we have much to be thankful for. We live in a great nation with services that support us and our loved ones. As a City Council Member representing the East Side of Manhattan, I am also deeply thankful to be a New Yorker. Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful for the many blessings that we have, and #GivingTuesday is a time to give back.
On November 25, just before Thanksgiving, I was proud to join New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito to declare December 2, 2014 to be #GivingTuesday. This is a day for us to give back to the organizations and charities that are important to us. #GivingTuesday is a natural outlet for our generosity and an antidote to the shopping frenzy of the days just prior.
Founded by the 92nd Street Y, in partnership with the United Nations Foundation, over 10,000 charities in 40+ countries participated in 2013. #GivingTuesday has also launched a global conversation about the value of giving back. Each year, giving has gone up significantly on that day, showing that people unite around movements to express their natural generosity. You can learn more at www.givingtuesday.org
Participation is simple. All you have to do is give back to the causes you care about. You can also spread the word among your friends and family on social media and in person.
I hope you will join me in recognizing the power of #GivingTuesday, and honoring those incredible organizations that started the movement -- The 92nd Street Y in partnership with the UN Foundation.
Happy #GivingTuesday!