Many of us are drawn to the possibility of being part of something bigger than ourselves. In 2015, Congress passed a bipartisan resolution endorsing the benefits of charitable giving and expressing support for #GivingTuesday, a social movement that encourages giving in all its forms by people and communities across the country.  #GivingTuesday, celebrated annually on the Tuesday after Black Friday and Cyber Monday, provides an annual opportunity to create a moment of national unity around giving and a more engaged citizenship.

The resolution went on to recognize #GivingTuesday for its power to “enact positive change and promote causes that further progress and prosperity for a better world,” while also highlighting local benefits, like the fact that #GivingTuesday enables communities to meet specific needs. The grassroots #GivingTuesday civic campaigns – cities, states and counties coming together to create local campaigns – have been among the most inspiring, from a multi-million-dollar statewide campaign in Maryland to a local initiative on the Boothbay peninsula in Maine that supports local nonprofits. #GivingTuesday itself was born six years ago at New York’s 92nd Street Y, a cultural center that has been bringing communities together since 1874.

Read about Giving Tuesday by Asha Curran at The Hill