STAC Students Prep For Giving Tuesday

From St. Thomas Aquinas College: Communication Arts students at St. Thomas Aquinas College will dress in holiday-themed costumes for a Santa Fest and join the #GivingTuesday movement on Tuesday, November 28th to raise awareness and donations for Project Joy, a People to People initiative that provides holiday gifts to children in more than 800 low-income families in Rockland County. The day of giving will begin with the “#GivingTuesday Santa Fest” at St. Thomas Aquinas College from 1:30-4:00 and conclude with the “#GivingTuesday Santa Fest After Party” from 5:00pm-7:00pm at Growler & Gill Gastropub in Nanuet, NY.

“I am thrilled to partner with STAC students and join the #GivingTuesday movement,” states Diane Serratore, Executive Director of People to People. “Project Joy isn’t just about toys or gifts during the holidays, it’s an opportunity to raise awareness of hunger in Rockland.” People to People is Rockland’s largest food pantry and provides food assistance to nearly 1,500 Rockland households every month—that’s about 4,000 people, with more than half of them children. “This lighthearted holiday event will call attention to a heartbreaking issue that affects about 30% of Rockland residents: hunger. Nobody should go hungry during the holidays or any day.”

#GivingTuesday is a global day of giving that harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities and organizations to encourage philanthropy and to celebrate generosity worldwide. It is held annually on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving (in the U.S.) and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday to kick-off the holiday giving season and inspire people to collaborate in improving their local communities and to give back in impactful ways to the charities and causes they support.

The “#GivingTuesday Santa Fest ” will feature a festival gathering of scores of Santa-clad students posing for pictures, taking challenges, and enjoying games, activities, and raffles in the Romano Activity Student Center on the STAC campus in Sparkill, NY from 1:30-4:00 pm. Students will make merry while raising donations for Project Joy—a holiday gift drive for over 800 families in Rockland County--while spreading information about People to People’s mission throughout the college community. “My students are participating in an inspiring holiday service learning experience, while honing their event planning, public relations, and social media content development skills,” states Communication Arts Professor Elaine Winship. The students have been working for People to People since September in an effort to learn and apply public relations and event planning skills, bridging the gap between the classroom and the real world. “I have enjoyed working with People to People because it is such a worthy cause that helps so many people in Rockland during the holidays and everyday. Plus, now I have real world PR experience to add to my resume,” states Communication Arts student Jan Tapia.

Afterwards, the festivities will continue from 5:00-7:00 pm at Growler and Gill in Nanuet, NY, for the “The #GivingTuesday Santa Fest After Party.” Co-owner, Michael Fitzgerald will offer his bar, free finger food, and proceeds from raffles to People to People’s Project Joy gift fundraiser. “As a Rockland business owner, it is my honor to help make the holidays brighter for local families and spread awareness about an amazing organization,” Fitzgerald says. The after party is open to the public.

Image via St. Thomas Aquinas College