After emerging from the shopping frenzy of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, the Buffalo State community has the opportunity to contribute to a worthy cause on Tuesday, December 1, during #GivingTuesday.
Begun four years ago by the 92nd Street Y, a cultural center in New York City, the global campaign uses social media to tap into people’s generosity to bring about real change in communities.
At Buffalo State participants are encouraged to post stories and photos of random acts of kindness on, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram with the hashtag #GivingTuesday and #UnleashtheBengal; share an Unselfie—a picture with a caption explaining an organization or cause they are supporting; or contribute to the Meet the Gap Fund, which provides emergency funds to Buffalo State students for books, food, and other necessities. Additionally, the community can get involved through the smartphone app Goosechase.
“The goal is to cultivate a culture of philanthropy,” said Mario Hicks, Buffalo State’s director of annual giving. “It doesn’t have to just be gifts to the campus, but also for a nonprofit where you volunteer or care about.”
Already, campus groups such as the Buffalo State Student Philanthropy Council and United Students Government have gotten involved. Participants have shared nonmonetary examples of ways they have given back such as volunteering with a suicide hotline or rescuing a dog from a shelter. See a #GivingTuesday video featuring students, faculty, and staff involved with the campaign.
The goal, Hicks said, is for 100 new students and 100 new alumni to participate.
“From my perspective, this is a pilot campaign to see what the campus is capable of doing in the long-term,” Hicks said. “We are targeting young alums because it’s a great way for them to build a relationship with the college. Research shows that recent graduates, even those with student loans, are making gifts to organizations they believe in. They may not be in position to give $20,000 toward a new building, but they can give $5 to help bring a speaker to campus or contribute to a scholarship.”
To learn more about how to get involved, contact Hicks at (716) 878-3467 or visit the Buffalo State Giving page.
