FORT MYERS, Fla. (Nov. 20, 2013) – Community Cooperative Ministries, Inc. has joined #GivingTuesday, a first of its kind effort that will harness the collective power of a unique blend of partners—charities, families, business and individuals—to transform how people think about, talk about and participate in the giving season.
Taking place on Dec. 3, 2013, #GivingTuesday will coincide with the kickoff of the holiday-shopping season and inspire people to take collaborative action to improve their local communities, give back in better, smarter ways to the charities and causes they support and help create a better world. It will utilize the power of social media to create a national movement around the holidays dedicated to giving, similar to how Black Friday and Cyber Monday have become days that are, today, synonymous with the holiday season.
CCMI is participating as a partner in #GivingTuesday to engage the Southwest Florida community in helping those in need during crisis and then connecting them to additional services addressing the root causes of hunger through the organization’s programs and services. The organization invites the Southwest Florida community to be a part of #GivingTuesday through the holiday season by adopting a family, donating a holiday meal or volunteering their time.
“#GivingTuesday is a counter narrative to Black Friday and Cyber Monday because it reminds us that the spirit of the holiday season should be about community and not just consumerism,” said Tracey Galloway, CEO of CCMI. “The most meaningful gift we can give our children, loved ones, friends and neighbors is the commitment to work together to help build a better world. We hope this movement will encourage our community to give back not only during the holiday season but all year round.”
Seeing an opportunity to channel the generous spirit of the holiday season to inspire action around charitable giving, a group of friends and partners, led by New York’s 92nd Street Y, came together to find ways to promote and celebrate the great American tradition of giving. Thought leaders in philanthropy, social media, innovative giving and grassroots organizing joined with 92nd Street Y to explore what is working in modern philanthropy and how to expand these innovations throughout the philanthropic sector while providing counsel and resources to help build this movement. Each week, new organizations have joined the movement and are providing creative ways people can embrace #GivingTuesday and collaborate in their giving efforts to create more meaningful results in their own communities.
A movement committed to celebrating and providing incentives to give, #GivingTuesday is endorsed by Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy, Dorothy A. Johnson Center on Philanthropy, Giving Institute, Giving USA Foundation and InterAction. Charity Navigator, Givewell and GuideStar are serving as Charity Advisors. VolunteerMatch is a volunteer advisor to #GivingTuesday. Its founding partners include the United Nations Foundation, DonorsChoose.org, Mashable, Blackblaud, charity: water, GlobalGiving, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), Kiva, Darden Restaurant Group, Groupon, Unilever and VentureThree Capital. To learn more about #GivingTuesday participants and activities or to join the celebration of giving, visit www.GivingTuesday.org, www.Facebook.com/GivingTuesday or www.Twitter.com/GivingTues.
CCMI is an innovative nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization made up of social service entrepreneurs fighting to end homelessness and hunger in our community. The agency provides more than 15,000 meals each month through its Everyday Cafés and Marketplaces and Meals on Wheels programs. CCMI also offers homeless and comprehensive life coaching services through its United Way Resource Houses, oversees an emergency mobile food pantry and supplies school pantries and weekend backpacks full of food to more than 1,500 children and their families each school year.
CCMI serves Fort Myers and the greater Lee County area, including Bonita Springs, Cape Coral and Lehigh Acres. CCMI works in partnership with United Way of Lee, Hendry and Glades, Harry Chapin Food Bank and various community foundations as well as collaborating with fellow community and service groups including The School District of Lee County and numerous churches, businesses and community support organizations.
For more information about CCMI, call 239-332-7687 or visit www.ccmileecounty.com.
