You gave thanks on Thanksgiving Day, and snagged some deals for yourselves on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Well today, grad students, is your opportunity to give. It’s Giving Tuesday, a nationwide event whose organizers point out that while Black Friday and Cyber Monday were good for the economy, “Giving Tuesday” is “good for the soul.”
UCSB Academic Peer Torrey Trust created a holiday card and attached it to a stuffed bear at Corwin Pavilion on Tuesday. The bears will be given to local children for the holidays. The effort was organized by the UCSB Bookstore and the Professional Women's Association. Credit: Patricia Marroquin On this “opening day,” so to speak, of the giving season, why not perform an act or two of giving? We asked UCSB community members for some ideas and thoughts about the day, and here’s what they said:
From George Thurlow, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Alumni Affairs:
"I would say there are two favorite causes for the Alumni Affairs office at this time: our Alumni Association Scholarship Fund, which provides scholarships to our best and most deserving undergraduates, and the Associated Students Food Bank."
The AS Food Bank has launched its holiday drive, which runs through Dec. 19. Find out how you can help on its webpage.
From Dr. Don Lubach, Associate Dean of Students and Advisor to the Graduate Students Association:
“Graduate students in the Graduate Students Association have jumped in to support their fellow grads via their childcare grant fund and emergency grant fund. Additionally, they have been supporting the AS Food Bank with their time and some financial support. I appreciate that our 3,000 grad students are showing leadership when it comes to giving.”
The A.S. Program Board and the UCen hosted Winter Wonderland Indoor Ice Skating on Tuesday at Corwin Pavilion. The event was free for all students and faculty, but canned good donations were accepted for the A.S. Food Bank. Credit: Patricia Marroquin
Need more ideas? You’ll find dozens of suggestions in a scroller on Giving Tuesday’s webpage, from United Way donations and holiday gift drives to cancer awareness fundraising and Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts. You may also view the video below, “Giving Tuesday Get Out the Give.”
Of course, the giving spirit is not just limited to one day, but can be practiced 24/7, 365 days of the year. Happy giving season, grads!