Pledges to Goddard’s 2015 Sustaining Donor Challenge Will Support Higher Education with a Social Mission
Plainfield, Vt. – Goddard College today announced it will participate in #GivingTuesday, a first of its kind effort that will harness the collective power of a unique blend of partners—charities, families, businesses and individuals—to transform how people think about, talk about and participate in the giving season.
Taking place December 2, 2014, #GivingTuesday will harness the power of social media to create a national movement around the holidays dedicated to giving, similar to how Black Friday and Cyber Monday have become days that are, today, synonymous with holiday shopping.
By joining #GivingTuesday, Goddard College is able to enact their mission—to advance cultures of rigorous inquiry, collaboration, and lifelong learning, where individuals take imaginative and responsible action in the world—now as a collective taking action in the world of philanthropy.
“#GivingTuesday is a perfect fit for Goddard, an institution that encourages students and graduates to enact change in the world through their studies,” said Meg Hammond, Donor Relations and Community Outreach Officer. “The College is excited to help change the narrative of the typical holiday shopping season to inspire action around charitable giving, and to inspire people to support Goddard College’s Sustaining Donor Challenge as well.”
On December 2nd, Goddard College will be spreading the word about its newest pledge: an anonymous donor who will give $15,000 to the College if 50 new sustaining donors pledge and give by June 30, 2015. Any sustaining pledges received on December 2nd to this Sustaining Donor Challenge will help its Annual Fund, which supports academic programs, operations and facilities upgrades, and current and future students of Goddard College.
“#GivingTuesday is a counter narrative to Black Friday and Cyber Monday because it reminds us that the spirit of the holiday giving season should be about community and not just consumerism,” said Kathy Calvin, CEO of the UN Foundation. “The most meaningful gift we can give our children, loved ones, friends and neighbors is the commitment to work together to help build a better world.”
More than 10,000 organizations have joined the #GivingTuesday movement and are providing creative ways people can embrace giving and collaborate in their donating efforts to create more meaningful results.
Those who are interested in joining Goddard College’s #GivingTuesday initiative can follow Goddard on Facebook or Twitter and share the hash tag #GoddardGivingTuesday.
####
About Goddard College
Initially founded in 1863 as the Goddard Seminary in Barre, Vt., Goddard College moved to its current Plainfield campus and was chartered in 1938 by founding President Royce “Tim” Pitkin. In 1963, Goddard became the first U.S. college to offer low-residency adult degree programs, and now offers accredited MA, MFA, BA, and BFA degree programs from the main campus in Plainfield, and sites in Seattle and Port Townsend, Wash. Goddard’s intensive, low-residency model offers the best of on-campus and distance education, with experienced faculty advisors, rigorous campus residencies, and the freedom to study from anywhere.
About #GivingTuesday
#GivingTuesday is a movement to celebrate and provide incentives to give. It will culminate with a global day of giving on December 2, 2014. #GivingTuesday will harness the power of social media to create a global moment that is dedicated to giving around the world, to inspire people to take collaborative action to improve their local communities, give back in better, smarter ways to the charities and causes they celebrate and help create a better world in the process. To learn more about #GivingTuesday participants and activities, or to join the celebration of giving, visit: Website: www.givingtuesday.org, Facebook: www.facebook.com/GivingTuesday, Twitter: www.twitter.com/GivingTues
