Now that consumers have gotten through Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and wade through the online deals of Cyber-Monday, another holiday-themed day growing in recent years is Giving Tuesday. Giving Tuesday a movement to create an international day of charitable giving at the beginning of the Christmas and holiday season. Giving Tuesday was started in 2012 by the 92nd Street Y and the United Nations Foundation as a response to commercialization and consumerism in the post-Thanksgiving season. “People know that they like to have that “Happy Holiday” feeling, and of course you do the shopping to provide for your loved ones, but then do things like Giving Tuesday so you can give back to your community,” Executive Director of the United Way of Knox County Laun Dunn said. Dunn added that often times it’s easy to get the national message by large organizations but the amount of work being done by small non-profits in Knox County that effects our daily lives – that’s where people can make the greatest investment with donation dollars. Starting Tuesday, November 27th, the United Way will be featuring all 19 of the agencies they serve both on the United Way website and on social media. A new and popular way to give is the United Way’s “Text-to-Give” campaign. Just text “UWKC4U” to 41444 to donate – you’ll receive a response to checkout with your donation.
