In a presentation to the Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Kelowna Sunrise on November 27th, club Foundation Chair Tom Paterson described how ‘Giving Tuesday’ came about and how Rotarians worldwide, including Rotarians from the Kelowna Sunrise Rotary club have responded to this call for worldwide service.
He shared that eight years ago, the 92nd street “Y” in New York City and the United Nations Foundation introduced “Giving Tuesday” – the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving – with the hope that after several days of big sales and rampant consumption, there’d be interest in giving back. They were right. #”Hashtag”Giving Tuesday went viral almost immediately resulting in ten million dollars of donations in its first year.
“I believe most people who join Rotary do so to give, expressed Paterson. “They give of their time….they give of their talents…..and they share their treasures by supporting the Rotary Foundation,” he acknowledged. “The Rotary Foundation can accomplish miracles you and I can’t do alone – however they can’t do their good work without you and I,” emphasized Paterson.
The Foundation serves simultaneously as a charity and performer in the field; Rotarians are on the ground, volunteering their skills and business expertise in support of grants that are funded by Kelowna Sunrise Rotarians and Rotarians throughout the world. In this way they carry out some of Rotary’s most important work.
Every act of kindness makes a difference, and no gift is too small. This Giving Tuesday, December 01 Rotarians are asked to find opportunities to help communities both close to home and around the globe. One easy way to take action is to make a gift to The Rotary Foundation’s Annual Fund SHARE, Rotary’s primary way of making sustainable projects possible both on a local and global level.
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