'Giving Tuesday' 2017: Sammamish, Issaquah Charities To Support

SAMMAMISH, WA - Now that the turkey-fueled consumerist binge of Black Friday and Cyber Monday is over, it's time to get altruistic. Nov. 28 is "Giving Tuesday," a newer holiday that reminds us to spend money on charities, too.

This is the sixth Giving Tuesday, which the Belfer Center for Innovation and Social Impact at the 92nd Street Y created in 2012 to "[connect] diverse groups of individuals, communities and organizations around the world for one common purpose: to celebrate and encourage giving."

Last year, Giving Tuesday raised approximately $168 million for hundreds of charities. However, there are some reports that the charitable holiday is better for bigger charities than small ones. This year, the Seattle-based Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Facebook will match up to $2 million in donations.

Giving Tuesday is by no means limited to participating nonprofits, but here are a few local organizations that are participating in the 2017 #GivingTuesday holiday:

• Arbor Montessori Schools - School - Website
• Athletes For Kids - Nonprofit - Website
• Eastside Friends of Seniors - Nonprofit - Website
• LittleDrops Orphanage Fund - Nonprofit - Website
• Naturally For Kids Foundation - Nonprofit - Website
• Pine Lake Cooperative Preschool - School - Website
• Strong4Sam - Nonprofit - Website
• The Hope Festival - Nonprofit - Website
• Behind the Badge Foundation - Nonprofit - Website
• Everyone For Veterans - Nonprofit - Website
• F-Factor - Nonprofit - Website
• Friends of Issaquah Salmon Hatchery (FISH) -Nonprofit - Website
• Generation Joy - Nonprofit - Website
• Issaquah Community Services - Nonprofit - Website
• Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank - Nonprofit - Website
• Issaquah History Museums - Nonprofit - Website
• People United for Pets (P.U.P.) - Nonprofit - Website
• Pomegranate Center - Nonprofit - Website
• Tavon Center - Nonprofit - Website
• The WAVE Foundation - Nonprofit - Website
• Toys for Kids - Nonprofit - Website
• Village Theatre - Nonprofit - Website

Photo: Johnny Lugo, right, gets his foot washed by Robin Ringland, left, a volunteer from the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia, Wash., Wednesday, April 6, 2016, at the United Way of King County's Community Resource Exchange in Seattle. The one-day event is designed to provide opportunities for people who are homeless or in temporary housing like Lugo, and facing other challenges to access resources and services available in the Seattle area.

Image by Ted S. Warren/Associated Press