ADDISON COUNTY — United Way of Addison County is joining a promotion dubbed “#GivingTuesday” that aims to inspire people to take action to improve their communities and give back to help create a better world for everyone.
On Dec. 3 — the Tuesday after Thanksgiving — #GivingTuesday will leverage social media to create a national movement dedicated to giving, just as Black Friday and Cyber Monday have been positioned to be synonymous with holiday shopping.
#GivingTuesday began last year, harnessing the collective power of its partners — nonprofits, businesses and individuals — to transform how people think about, talk about and participate in giving.
As the largest privately funded nonprofit in the U.S. and the world, United Way is asking donors, partners and volunteers that are part of the United Way movement around the world to join #GivingTuesday. Everyone can find a way to give back — by giving, advocating (raising your voice to spread the word), and volunteering at  www.unitedwayaddisoncounty.org.
United Way of Addison County will be raising funds for Pathways Scholarships at Patricia A. Hannaford Career Center. These are needs-based scholarships up to $1,000 to be used for adult technical education classes leading to certification recognized by industry in a variety of career pathways. The Career Center is looking at identified skill set needs in Addison County and providing educational opportunities to meet those needs. More information is at www.hannafordcareercenter.org.
“These programs have opened the door to meaningful employment for many of our community members and have the potential to do so for so many more,” said United Way staffer Nancy Luke, who is passionate about United Way’s partnership with #GivingTuesday. She says it is a day that will inspire people to get involved in creating lasting positive change in their communities.
“Giving Tuesday is a movement of more than 4,000 partners who are collectively redefining what it means to ‘give,’” said Stacey Stewart, U.S. president of United Way Worldwide. “It’s not just about money, it’s about time and influence too. We all can do something to make our communities stronger and more successful.”