I absolutely love that society has "adopted" special days to celebrate certain things during the year. I mean days like International Talk Like a Pirate Day (September 19), National Coffee Day (September 29), National Hamburger Day (May 28), and my personal favorite… National Doughnut Day (first Friday in June).

 

Of course, most of these days were established over the last several decades, unlike Earth Day (April 22) and Grandparents Day (the first Sunday after Labor Day), which have been around a while longer.

 

While I have my favorites, I believe today is one of the most important "special days" on the calendar… Giving Tuesday.

 

In the height of consumerism and landing immediately after Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday is a day set aside to recognize nonprofits' incredible and valuable work. Plus, as someone who runs a nonprofit, setting aside a day to encourage people to donate is powerful. It reminds us of the importance of giving back to the community and the responsibility each of us has as a citizen.

 

When Giving Tuesday was launched in 2012, it was done with a simple goal: to set aside a day that encouraged people to do good. That's it—nothing gimmicky, just a day when the entire world is urged to do something good.

 

If you are like me, you woke up this morning to find your inbox filled with requests from organizations with which you are affiliated. All of these organizations do incredible work and are worthy of your support. In fact, I hope you will support many of them, not just today but throughout the year. Nonprofits, like our Jewish Federation, can only do what we do through the support we receive from community members like you.

 

Please make a gift today to our Jewish Federation. No other organization is focused squarely on strengthening and enhancing Jewish life in the greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys like us. By making a gift, you are the direct beneficiary of our work.

 

One more thing… doing good today does not need to stop when you donate. Here are a few suggestions you can do: Hold the door open for someone today, smile, call a friend you haven't spoken with in a while, send someone a card to say hi, pay for someone else's coffee or meal, take your neighbor's trash cans in from the curb, and the list goes on.

 

However you choose to spend Giving Tuesday, make it impactful and meaningful.