Eastern Michigan University has geared up for its version of the national event #GivingTuesday. The all-day event will be held across EMU’s campus on Tuesday, Dec. 3.
According to its mission statement, #GivingTuesday is a campaign to create a national day of giving at the start of the annual holiday season. It celebrates and encourages charitable activities that support nonprofit organizations.
The idea behind #GivingTuesday is for a multitude of organizations, families and students to come together and make donations or provide other ways of giving back to the community. Anyone can participate and for EMU’s event. People are encouraged to give to any of the university’s programs that they so desire.
A jam session will also take place during #GivingTuesday. EMU will provide the event at the Student Center’s main food court stage from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be music from DJ MikeDeeBest, a photo booth and also an opportunity for students at EMU to win a Kindle Fire HD. At the men’s home basketball game, a check presentation will be made with the amount of money already donated by 7 p.m. that evening. The deadline to make a donation is at midnight.
EMU alumna and communications and graphic design manager for the EMU Foundation, Amanda Skowronek, said that #GivingTuesday is a great way for students to give and promote student philanthropy. It also provides ways to educate the students on how to give back to the university.
Those wishing to the pledge can do so through the social media sites like Facebook and Twitter.
“We’re really excited about the potential for this,” Skowronek said. “We’re hopeful that it will get bigger and better next year.”.
EMU’s vice president of advancement and executive director of the EMU Foundation, Tom Stevick, said that everyone who is with the foundation is going to be involved in various ways on
#GivingTuesday. They will be situated at different locales on campus, accepting gifts and donations.
“It’s a real team project,” Stevick said. “Everyone is out that day trying to raise awareness and support some of the programs at EMU. It’s a kick-off event for the giving season. Many people make charitable gifts in December and this day reminds people that giving is part of the holiday spirit, as well.”
Student Body President Desmond Miller said that the EMU Student Government has been working hard to encourage students to get involved.
“Student Government is collaborating with the foundation to get more members of the EMU community involved and donating,” Miller said. “We will even be present on site assisting the foundation in receiving donations and giving out free T-shirts to individuals who donate.”
For those wishing to make a donation or have questions and need more information about the event, contact Jackie Richardson at the EMU Foundation at jackie.richardson@emich.edu or call 734-481-2330. For more information about the event itself, visit emufoundation.org/index.php/givingtuesday.html. Other ways to make a donation can be found at emufoundation.org/index.php/way-to-give.html.