Blog

Today is Giving Tuesday, a global day of giving back. It’s a time for charities, businesses, families, community centers, and students around the world to come together to celebrate generosity and to give.

Still a relatively new initiative, Giving Tuesday was created by the 92^nd Street Y, in partnership with the UN Foundation, to address consumerism and excess, shopping for a point rather than a purpose, and to provide alternatives to the frenzy of cyber shopping – Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

So, around the world today, nonprofit organizations and agencies will be emailing, messaging, texting, tweeting and Instagramming pleas to people – count on receiving a few yourself – to give, to choose making a difference over buying another tool, toy or sweater for someone who likely doesn’t need it.

However, today, don’t expect a traditional Giving Tuesday message from us, from Family & Children’s Place. While we are happy to accept and to receive a financial pledge or promise any day of the year, we choose to use today to say thank you, to show appreciation for the help, support and hope you give every day.

Through financial and in-kind gifts, through participation on and in our governing and advisory boards, for volunteering – for sharing your time, talent and treasure to help us protect and heal children and families hurt by abuse.

Today, we celebrate your role in creating change, helping build a better community that will provide brighter futures for children who without you would have little hope for such a thing.

The holiday adage, “It is better to give than to receive,” is true to a fault, so today we give back to you for all you have given. We give thanks for our donors — men, women and children who demonstrate their love and concern for others through their help and support. For corporate partners who sponsor and support events and activities. For grantors such as Metro United Way, Kosair Charities, Humana, Brown-Forman and others who annually step up for kids and families through sizable support. For government partners who help guide, govern and fund our work.

And to the children and families who trust us to help them navigate the path from hurting to healing. To students who open their hearts and minds to help in school and in life. To families who let us share their journey from homelessness to stable, safe and secure housing. To new parents who share their homes and babies with us so that they may provide the happiest and healthiest upbringing possible for their newborn.

For us, Giving Tuesday is most certainly a day of giving – thanks, for all you do for us, for the hurting children and families, for making a real difference.

Thank you.