After giving thanks on Thursday and enduring Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Nevadans are being asked to support good causes today.
Giving Tuesday, a nine-year-old tradition started in New York, provides a chance for charities to raise funds and awareness as the world focuses on philanthropy for a day, which generated $2.4 billion in donations globally last year.
The event began with a pair of “organizations that really wanted to highlight what they called ‘radical giving,’ the idea that, you know, after all, the consumerism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, that we should focus on gratitude and giving to others,” said UNLV Associate Professor Jessica Word of the School of Public Policy and Leadership.
“The first year, they raised in the 10s of millions of dollars,” she said. “Last year, it was estimated that they actually raised 2.4 billion dollars with a ‘B.’”
That amount is considered the biggest one-day total in philanthropic history, and this year’s total is expected to grow beyond that by at least $200 million.
You can find out more information about the causes discussed today at these links:
- Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation: “Candlelighters is the first and oldest organization helping families facing childhood cancer here in Nevada,” said Kimberly Kindig, chief executive officer of the Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation. “As you can imagine, a critical illness affects everybody.”
- Junior League of Las Vegas: Our group “is made up of all women and we are open to any woman or someone who identifies as a woman in Southern Nevada,” said Kate Newman, president of Junior League of Las Vegas. “Junior League provided some of the initial funding for the first three years to get KNPR off the ground. So it seems that was money well spent.”
- Reno Burrito Project: “My roommate introduced me to burritos. I fell in love with it. I don't even know how to pronounce the word burritos,” said Ghanian immigrant Blaize Abuntori. He founded the Reno Burrito Project, which feeds the homeless.
- St. Jude’s Ranch for Children: “For over 55 years, we have been a nonprofit serving Southern Nevada and children that are victims of abuse and neglect, exploited youth oftentimes through sex trafficking,” said Christina Vela, executive director of St. Jude’s Ranch for Children.
Editor’s note: Nevada Public Radio is also raising funds on Giving Tuesday, and supporters can donate here.
Blaize Abuntori, founder, Reno Burrito Project; Kimberly Kindig, chief executive officer, Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation; Kate Newman, president, Junior League of Las Vegas; Christina Vela, executive director, St. Jude’s Ranch for Children; Jessica Word, associate professor, UNLV’s School of Public Policy and Leadership
