On December 1, Sonoma State University will become a partner in #GivingTuesday, the charitable movement that started in 2012 as a response to the intense consumerism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, two of the biggest shopping days of the year. The goal is to raise funds and awareness for nonprofits organizations through social media.
"Scholarships are so important because the cost of education has escalated tremendously in the 38 years since I graduated college, and I know many talented students who have dropped out of college as a result," says Willie Tamayo, executive vice president of La Tortilla Factory in Santa Rosa. "As a community, we all have a responsibility to provide opportunities for every student."
Every donation of any size makes a difference. Maybe it's assuring one more research project gets funding, or maybe one more student gets funds for textbooks she would have not otherwise been able to afford.
There are four major giving opportunities at SSU through the Fund for Sonoma State for #GivingTuesday. The Fund's scholarships support students from all walks of life; The Provost's Undergraduate Research Grants offer cutting-edge research experiences and the chance for students to work alongside the university's top faculty; the Heart of SSU Alumni Scholarship is a new program that funds an entire year tuition and education materials for a student demonstrating strong academic performance and heightened commitment to the campus and community; and WolfBucks for Books gives students funding for textbooks and other supplies.
"The new Heart of Alumni scholarship is designed to create a grassroots effort," says David Felte, president of SSU's Alumni Association. "So every single alumni that wants to participate has an opportunity, whether it's $5 a month, $100 a month, or a $100 gift, it gives everyone the chance to give back to the university that gave so much to them."
Donations can be made online at http://www.sonoma.edu/development/give2ssu.
Now in its fourth year, #GivingTuesday is a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration. Observed on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving (in the U.S.) and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday, #GivingTuesday kicks off the charitable season, when many focus on their holiday and end-of-year giving. Since its inaugural year in 2012, #GivingTuesday has become a movement that celebrates and supports giving and philanthropy with events throughout the year and a growing catalog of resources.
As a global movement, #GivingTuesday unites countries around the world by sharing our capacity to care for and empower one another. There are more than 30,000 partners in 68 countries including small businesses, nonprofits, government agencies and major corporations.