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NEW TRADITION Giving Tuesday
SHARE omaha
New Tradition
GIVING TUESDAY EMBRACED BY THE COMMUNITY
SECRET KINDNESS AGENTS HUNG HEAT GEAR IN TURNER PARK ON GIVING TUESDAY 2019, FREE FOR THE TAKING, FOR THOSE IN NEED.
When everyone gives a little the result is amazing. When the frenzy of Black Friday, the support for Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday are over there is another new tradition being embraced by the community – Giving Tuesday. On Tuesday, November 30 the Omaha/Council Bluffs metro comes together to help those who need it most.
While Giving Tuesday is a global event, SHARE Omaha has elevated this day of giving in the metro and the business community has responded.
SHARE Omaha is a free, comprehensive platform with more than 600 nonprofits listed on its website. It allows donors and volunteers to explore Omaha (#GivingTuesday402) and Council Bluffs (#GivingTuesday712) metro nonprofits all in one place, to find the organizations they are passionate about, and then donate, volunteer or fulfill wish lists. The spirit of Giving Tuesday is to show the strength and unity of communities through radical generosity, and that’s just what treasured local businesses are doing. For example: leading support from Core Bank for #GivingTuesday402 in the Omaha metro and TS Bank for #GivingTuesday712 in Southwest Iowa is making it possible for SHARE Omaha to promote and help nonprofits reach donors.
The generosity of Cox, Kiewit, PayPal and Physicians Mutual, who have contributed $16,000 to a prize pool, means member nonprofits can win cash prizes for their efforts.
The Pottawattamie County Community Foundation is again offering a 20% match for eligible endowed nonprofits. Gifts can be made through November 30, 2021.
In addition, Omaha/Council Bluffs businesses are gearing up to participate in what is to be the largest giving day in the metro in 2021. From hosting onsite collection drives to lighting buildings in celebration to encouraging employee participation in company match programs, there are a wide range of ways businesses are joining the movement. It is the power of the community that wraps warmth around those who need it most, not just during the holidays but all year.
LOCAL NONPROFITS DOING GOOD IN THE METRO
BUILDERTREND WRITES LETTERS FOR WOMEN’S CENTER
FOR ADVANCEMENT DURING GIVING TUESDAY 2019. PHYSICIANS MUTUAL LIGHTS PURPLE IN CELEBRATION OF GIVING TUESDAY 2020.
TS BANK COLLECTS DIAPERS FOR NEW VISIONS HOMELESS SERVICES DURING GIVING TUESDAY 2020.Laura Stastny, executive director of Nebraska Wildlife Rehab, said, “Past Giving Tuesday donors have helped us build critical caging needed for the animals in our care. They have also helped us provide emergency medical care for injured animals, including bobcats, opossums, bats and beavers. We couldn’t care for those animals without the support of our donors!”
Some of the support includes Core Bank who is hosting a community-wide diaper drive for The Life House and it’s 10 partnering agencies with a goal of collecting over 20,000 diapers. TS Bank is collecting diapers and canned goods for Together and Treynor food pantries and New Visions Homeless Services at their locations across Southwest Iowa.
Corporations and nonprofits like PayPal, Physicians Mutual, Bellevue University’s John B. Muller Administrative Services building, UNMC’s iEXCEL building, Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge, The Rose Theatre, Omaha Community Playhouse and the Omaha Performing Arts Holland Center for Performing Arts and Orpheum Theatre are turning their building and/or exterior signage purple (in the Omaha metro) or red (in Iowa).
Businesses such as Kiewit, PayPal, Rocket Car Wash, Farm Credit Services of America and ConAgra are asking employees to support the campaign through their company gift matching program. OPPD is promoting the day through their employee volunteerism program. Express Employment Professionals is hosting a Share the Warmth Blanket Drive. They are accepting new and used blankets, towels, and twin sheets, benefitting the New Visions Homeless Services and Promise 4 Paws. Kiewit employees are making cards of well wishes and encouragement for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention – Nebraska chapter. Hurts Donuts will be donating 10% of sales all day to The Collective for Hope.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has only deepened the inequalities in access education and opportunity faced by economically disadvantaged students,” said Jessica Schaaf, development coordinator at the NorthStar Foundation. “Giving Tuesday plays an important role in helping us raise funds and awareness for NorthStar services, and the wonderful students and families we serve, in our Omaha community and beyond.” “SHARE Omaha is committed to understanding and uplifting what the nonprofits in our metro need to stay strong and sustainable. On November 30 for Giving Tuesday, we will champion multiple ways you can give to local nonprofits, whether it’s donating money, items or your time. All of these things continue to be incredibly valuable, and we encourage you as a Giving Tuesday participant to get involved in any way you can,” Maas said.
SHARE Omaha’s one-stop donation portal makes it easy to give to the causes that matter most to you. Simply search for a nonprofit on the website, select the amount you’d like to donate and add it to your cart. You can repeat these steps with multiple nonprofits, then make your donation to all of them in a single transaction with the simple, streamlined check-out process.
Let’s make this our metro’s best year yet. Explore our community’s nonprofits today to find a cause that speaks to you and get ready to give on November 30.
