GivingTuesdayNowBanner
For the past eight years, nonprofits across Southwest Florida have kicked off the holiday season with Giving Tuesday—an international movement that rallies the entire world for a day of doing good. Beyond donating money (the last event in December raised $2 million in the U.S., alone), the campaign calls for people to give back in any way they can—contributing financially, donating time and skills, promoting an organization's efforts or simply doing something nice for a neighbor.
In light of the COVID-19 crisis and the dire need resulting from the pandemic, the organizers launched a second day of giving, #GivingTuesdayNow for May 5, to stimulate coronavirus relief efforts and unite people in times of isolation.
The event focuses on helping everyone affected and all forms of generosity, but there is a special emphasis on supporting nonprofits—the unseen heroes of the pandemic that are feeding, sheltering and otherwise caring for those impacted by the crisis.
In our own backyard, many nonprofits are stretched to the max, with canceled fundraisers threatening their budgets and increased need within the communities they serve. Nonprofits, like Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum and Artis—Naples have had to shutter their doors; the local YMCA chapters have furloughed most of its staff; and food pantries, nonprofits for families and underserved children and healthcare groups have more people coming to them seeking help.
Giving Tuesday operates under the notion that any little bit we do helps, and it provides a great opportunity for our philanthropic community to show the generous heart of Southwest Florida.
We reached out to our nonprofit friends to find out who is participating on #GivingTuesdayNow, on May 5. Join any of these efforts or reach out to the organization you support to see how you can help.
- Alliance for the Arts: Dean & Monica Piccirillo and Wilbur Smith Law Firm agreed to match all funds raised up to $10,000
- American Cancer Society: Funds raised will go toward the nonprofit’s continuing efforts to support vulnerable cancer patients, especially during this unprecedented crisis
- American Heart Association: Funds raised will go toward the nonprofit’s continued efforts to research cardiovascular disease and stroke, including the impact of COVID-19 on those in at-risk categories, as well a s continuing healthy initiatives in Southwest Florida
- American Red Cross
- Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum: Funds raised will go toward the nonprofit’s Emergency Relief Fund
- Beverly’s Angels: Funds raised will go toward a chef-cooked meal for families , as well as funding the nonprofit’s other COVID-19 efforts
- Boys & Girls Club of Collier County: Funds raised will go toward the charity’s Relief Fund and the nonprofit’s Board have agreed to match all funds raised up to $100,000 until May 31
- Children’s Advocacy Center of Collier County: Funds raised will help support critical services to sever e ly abused children whose abuse took place during the COVID crisis
- Collier Child Care Resources: Donations will go toward scholarships for children of people deemed as “essential workers”
- Community House of Sanibel
- Conservancy of Southwest Florida
- Crossover Community Center
- David Lawrence Center: Donations will fund free mental health care for clients who have lost jobs or are had their income reduced
- The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools, Inc.: Funds will go toward COVID-19 relief to ensure that educators and students have the tools they need to succeed
- Gladiolus Food Pantry: Funds raised will go toward the nonprofit’s continued efforts to provide families with groceries in Harlem Heights and surrounding neighborhoods
- Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples: Funds will go toward creating and sharing C’MON activities and packages for children and families impacted by COVID-19, as well as the ongoing support for the museum’s exhibits
- Grace Place: Funds will go toward the charity’s COVID-19 relief fund and will use the day to celebrate their Grace Place Heroes
- Greater Naples YMCA: Funds will go toward continuing their efforts to support the community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility
- Guadalupe Center: Funds raised will go toward the nonprofit’s continued efforts, as well as their Student Focused, Mission Forward initiative, which focuses on keeping students and teachers safe and engaged in learning while we are apart
- Gulf Coast Humane Society: Funds raised will go toward the nonprofit’s continued efforts to care for and rescue animals in need
- Gulfshore Playhouse: John and Kristin Miller have agreed to match all funds raised up to $25,000
- The Heights Foundation: Funds raised will go to the families in the Harlem Heights neighborhood to help meet their needs during the COVID-19 crisis
- Jewish Federation of Greater Naples: Funds raised will go toward the nonprofit’s Annual Community Campaign, which supports the Food Pantry at the Naples Senior Center, in addition to other charitable initiatives
- Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
- Keep Lee County Beautiful: Funds will go toward community cleanups, beautification projects and environmental projects
- Kids' Minds Matter
- Lee County Coalition for a Drug-Free Southwest Florida: Funds raised will go toward providing virtual substance abuse prevention resources and activities to parents and caregivers
- NCH: Funds raised will go toward the hospital’s COVID-19 Respond and Relief Fund, which provides PPE supplies, equipment, facility upgrades and clinical staffing
- Naples Art
- Naples Children & Education Foundation: Funds raised will go toward the nonprofit’s general funds and be distributed where it’s most needed
- Naples Performing Arts Center: Funds raised will go toward the nonprofit’s continued efforts to provide a familiar environment that nurtures young students’ confi dence and artistic development
- The Naples Player s: Denny and Tanya Glass have agreed to match all funds raised up to $25,000
- Our Daily Bread Food Pantry: An anonymous donor has agreed to match all funds raised up to $50,000
- Our Mother’s Home: Funds raised will go support the Mentored Living Program for teen moms living in foster care
- Pathways Early Education Center of Immokalee: Funds raised will support the Changing the Path Program, providing critical early education opportunities to the impoverished community of Immokalee
- Ronald McDonald House: Funds raised will go toward the areas of greatest need, as RMH works to resume its program
- The Shelter for Abused Women & Children: Funds raised will go toward the nonprofit’s continued efforts to provide a safe space for those not safe at home
- Shy Wolf Sanctuary: Funds raised will go toward the Sanctuary’s Emergency Operations Fund
- Southwest Florida Community Foundation: In partnership with United Way of Lee, Hendry, Glades and Okeechobee, funds raised will go toward the SWFL Emergency Relief Fund
- St. Matthew’s House: Funds raised will go toward the nonprofit’s continued efforts to feed families and provide shelter to those in need, for which they’ve seen a 1000% increase in due to COVID-1 9
- STARability Foundation: Funds raised will support the foundation’s new virtual programs and ramping up services and safety measures when the in-person programs resume
- United Way of Lee, Hendry, Glades, and Okeechobee: Funds raised will go toward local COVID-19 response efforts and Suncoast Credit Union has agreed to match all funds raised up to $50,000 until May 10
- Valerie’s House: Funds raised will go toward software, technology and additional grief counselors, as well as costs to help families in crisis after the death of a family member
- Youth Haven: Funds raised will go toward purchasing additional food and other necessities, as well as increasing staff, in response to COVID-19
Please contact digital@gulfshorelife.com if you are a non-profit participating in #GivingTuesdayNow and would like to be included in this list.