GivingTuesday 2018: How To Help Bethesda Charities

BETHESDA, MD — If mom and dad want something, there's a good chance they'll go out and buy it. The grandparents are sending their stuff home with you, and the last thing your parents want is more of it. So, what do you do? One option is donating to a Bethesda charity in their name. And what better time to give than on #GivingTuesday? It's a global day of philanthropic giving and volunteerism that follows Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday.

This year, #GivingTuesday is on Nov. 27. This may be an opportunity to start your end-of-the-year giving early. Some organizations have already signed up, including:

• Alley Cat Allies
• American Occupational Therapy Foundation
• Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation
• Bethesda Green
• Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network
• Center for Student Opportunity
• CureSearch for Children's Cancer
• DC Alliance of Youth Advocates
• Diabetes Action Research and Education Foundation
• Farm Animal Rights Movement (FARM)
• Foundation for the National Institutes of Health
• Friends of Patients at the NIH
• Genetics Society of America
• Give an Hour
• HOPE CONNECTIONS FOR CANCER SUPPORT
• Hope for Children Fund, Inc.
• Imagination Stage
• International Biomedical Research Alliance
• KEEN Greater DC
• KID Museum
• Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic
• Mid-Atlantic Chinese Shar-Pei Rescue Operation (MACSPRO)
• National Alliance for Caregiving
• National Foundation for Cancer Research
• National Foundation for Infectious Diseases
• National Pancreas Foundation
• Oldie But Goodies Cocker Rescue

But we know there are more charities deserving of a contribution.

Tell Us: What charities in Bethesda do you recommend people give to on #GivingTuesday? Tell us in the comments, or if you're a charity, start a free user account and post your GivingTuesday event directly on Patch.

Charities fill gaps in communities like ours. No matter how tough your life is, it's not hard to look around and find someone who has it worse. Plus, it makes you feel good and, if you have children, teaches them the importance of charity.

The global movement got its start in 2012 at the Belfer Center for Innovation at the 92nd Street Y, a cultural center in New York City. It harnesses the power of social media — you'll see the #GivingTuesday hashtag popping up on your accounts — and the generosity of people and corporations to unite people around the values of community service and giving.

Businesses and individuals can show their generosity on #GivingTuesday. In past years, entertainers such as Queen Latifah, NFL stars like Kansas City Chiefs' Travis Kelce and Seattle Seahawks' Earl Thomas and other glitterati have loaned their names to the effort and surprised children in their communities with shopping sprees. Last year, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital hosted a #GiveThanks Holiday Pop-Up in New York City on #GivingTuesday.

Last year, more than $300 million was raised online for a broad range of organizations, but cash gifts were only part of the story. People also gave volunteer hours, donations of food and clothing, and, less tangible, performed acts of kindness.

"We are incredibly inspired by the way the #GivingTuesday community has embraced this concept for a worldwide movement," Henry Timms, founder of GivingTuesday and executive director of the 92nd Street Y, said in a press release. "As we prepare for November 27, we're energized and encouraged by the community's generosity. The levels of creativity, effort and the quality of the new ideas people have contributed and shared are phenomenal."

Image via Shutterstock

(For more news and information like this, subscribe to the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Patch for free. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here. Don't forget to like us on Facebook.)