AUSTIN, Texas — I Live Here I Give Here (ILHIGH), an Austin-based nonprofit, is encouraging Central Texans to participate in Giving Tuesday on Nov. 30.
Giving Tuesday is a day that encourages people to do good by giving back, starting at the local level. The day takes place annually on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, as a donation-based follow-up to Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
This Giving Tuesday, ILHIGH is trying to reach its goal of $100 million in cumulative funding for 2021.
"2021 is a momentous year for I Live Here I Give Here," ILHIGH CEO Courtney Manuel said in a statement. "Not only are we celebrating our organization’s 15th anniversary, we are also about to achieve an incredible milestone – $100 million raised for Central Texas nonprofits. We will surpass this landmark achievement on Giving Tuesday, thanks to the generous Central Texans who helped us get there!"
Manuel says due to many non-profits having to cancel events and fundraisers this past year due to the pandemic, many are facing financial burdens, as those events can bring in a lot of money to keep the non-profits running.
"A day like giving Tuesday is a wonderful opportunity for the community to come together and provide that exact type of funding that organizations would normally be receiving from their in-person fundraisers," said Manuel.
Not only did many nonprofits receive less money this past year, but many are serving more people. The greater need is due to many people struggling during the pandemic and due to the growing population in Central Texas.
"The growth in Austin is greater now than it ever has been," said Manual. "What that growth means to a nonprofit organization is a bigger divide between people who have means and people who don't. And that just creates even more pressure on the nonprofit community to show up for our friends and neighbors."
Manuel told KVUE that she believes the people of Central Texas will come through and support the nonprofits that serve our community this Giving Tuesday because she has seen firsthand that when there is a need, the people in this community do what they can to fill it.
"When Central Texas has gone through rough, rough times, I watched the Central Texas community step up and get back," Manuel said. "It was evident during the pandemic, it was evident during the winter storm last year and I just know that we will do it again."
Donors who use the AmplifyATX.org website to donate to their favorite nonprofits on Giving Tuesday can make an optional extra contribution to the I Live Here I Give Here Amplify Fund in the donation cart before checkout. Donors can also visit the fund page to contribute directly.
According to ILHIGH, the ILHIGH Amplify Fund encourages donors and nonprofits on Amplify Austin Day in early March and is the source of critical matching dollars shared across all organizations. Since 2013, ILHIGH has raised over $11 million for the Amplify fund, which benefits more than 700 participating Central Texas causes.
This Giving Tuesday, ILHIGH is also encouraging Central Texans to participate in its Acts of Generosity Social Media Challenge by sharing how they give using the hashtags #ILiveHereIGiveHere and #GivingTuesday. According to ILHIGH, an Act of Generosity includes things like supporting local artists, fostering an animal, donating unused books and more.
ILHIGH has also teamed up with Visible to select one Instagram follower to review $100 to give to their favorite nonprofit on AmplifyATX.org.
According to ILHIGH, since its first Giving Tuesday campaign in 2017, the nonprofit has counted approximately 31 million Acts of Generosity in Central Texas, including $17 million donated by Central Texans.
PEOPLE ARE ALSO READING: