United Way encourages #GivingTuesday

As part of a nationwide effort to bolster nonprofit fundraising and volunteering endeavors, #GivingTuesday was established five years ago — designated for the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. Rooted in online communications, #GivingTuesday was initiated by the 92nd Street Y in New York City.

Meanwhile, last year marked the beginning of #GivingTuesdayNM, which established a statewide New Mexico coalition to promote volunteerism and philanthropy during a season in which community need and consumerism are at peak levels.

“It takes the focus off the consumerism and (moves focus from) the ‘get, get, get,’ to ‘give, give, give,’” said Johannah Ruddy of Giving Tuesday New Mexico. “That’s something as a mom I try to teach my kids and it’s something that’s really important that we promote more as a culture and a society.”

Ruddy said it’s a time to learn and share about local nonprofits while signing up to give time or money to varied causes of interest.

United Way of Eastern New Mexico Executive Director Erinn Burch said #GivingTuesdayNM delivers an important message with regard to being mindful of the needs of others.

“We hope that the attention will remind our community members to give and give local,” she said. “Donations to United Way of Eastern New Mexico stay in Curry and Roosevelt Counties. Donations support local programs at 15 local nonprofits, as well as make it possible for United Way services to be offered, such as 2-1-1, Successful You Career Closet, Game Changers and Reality Check Day. Giving local has a big impact.”

According to the Center for Nonprofit Excellence, the organization assists undertakings such as #GivingTuesdayNM in strengthening the capabilities and capacity of New Mexico nonprofits to effectively meet their missions — adding healthy nonprofits lead to healthier communities, volunteer expertise can be harnessed to improve nonprofits and strategic collaborations help nonprofits achieve more and better serve their clients.