For those Kossacks living in Seattle and the Puget Sound region, today is the day to Give BIG. Give BIG is the Annual Day of giving sponsored by the Seattle Foundation to encourage citizens to give generously to local non-profit groups.
Give Big is supported by major Puget Sound corporations including Microsoft, Boeing, BECU, and Starbucks.
Many non-profit groups benefit from this highly visible day of giving because the Seattle Foundation provides a "Stretch Pool" of funds to encourage individual giving.
Further, individual or foundation supporters of non-profit groups provide "matching dollar for dollar" gifts to make the event more compelling and rewarding.
See below the Orange Cloud (Croissant?) for examples of great groups that are doing great work in the community and who have matching fund supporters lined up.
Real Change exists to provide opportunity and a voice for low-income and homeless people while taking action for economic justice. Real Change publishes the only “street newspaper” in Washington State and the only newspaper that consistently focuses on poverty, homelessness, and social justice. In 2012 Real Change had a paid circulation of over 872,562 copies. Vendors pay Real Change 60 cents for each Real Change Newspaper and resell the paper on the street for the Two Dollar cover price plus tips. Support Real Change here.
Union Gospel Mission provides emergency care and long-term recovery services to hurting and homeless people in Seattle. Union Gospel started serving soup for homeless and unemployed people during the Great Depression. 82 years later, they are still caring for our neighbors. Services include overnight shelter, hot meals, drug and alcohol recovery, gang intervention, after-school programs, dental care, and legal services. Support Union Gospel here.
The Whidbey Institute is a place where communities come together to thrive, where individuals are supported as leading-edge changemakers, and where our ecosystem's vitality is the core of all our activity. Nestled in 100 acres of sacred woodland, they catalyze, convene, renew and inspire positive change. They are part of strong local and global networks – individually, in organizations, in communities and through movements. The Whidbey Institute is working on issues such as Climate Change and recently hosted a conference of activists and change leaders working in this critical arena. Support the Whidbey Institute here.
We're fortunate that in the greater Seattle area, we have many many fantastic non-profit groups helping to build a more just, equitable, peaceful and sustainable world. If you have the capacity, please take a moment to look at the Give Big site and find a group that resonates with your personal values and give generously.