From Shopping to Giving, #GivingTuesday
By: Caroline Tucker
Updated: November 27, 2012
A new unofficial holiday is going viral with a chance to share, instead of shop.
We've already been through black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Is 'Giving Tuesday'.
Hit twitter and you will see #GivingTuesday.
"What a great idea around the holiday time when people are buying things and really gives non profits to showcase what they are doing," said Alice Calabrese, CEO of Lollypop Farm.
For every dollar donated at Lollypop Farm, about 80 cents of it goes directly to helping care for the animals here.
Lollypop Farm says its seen donations dip and an effort like #GivingTuesday can help.
"It exposes charities message to a different audience," said Calabrese.
The initiative was started by a New York City YMCA and the United Nations Foundation this year to encourage more charity, whether it's money or time.
Online you see organizations like Golisano Children's Hospital and the Rochester Red Cross reaching out to online followers.
"Social media is a great way to get the message out," said Calabrese.
Acquavation, a Rochester company that creates custom water bottles, donates 20-percent of its profits to a charity of your choice.
It partnered with #GivingTuesday and you can find some of those bottles at shelves at lollypop.
"Aquavation has been generous to us and other non profit locally and nationally," said Calabrese.
While Black Friday has become an unofficial holiday, the hope is that there's another day just for giving.
"I certainly welcome a Giving Tuesday and people being charitable to nonprofits like Lollypop Farm during the holidays," said Calabrese.
For more information on #GivingTuesday click here.
For more information on Lollypop Farm click here.
For more information on Aquavation click here.
For more information about Rochester Red Cross or the Golisano Children's Hospital.

