Photo: A volunteer health educator in Burundi makes her rounds with a Thirty-One Gifts utility tote. (PRNewsFoto/World Vision,Thirty-One Gifts)
This Giving Tuesday, Thirty-One Gifts is doubling its commitment to World Vision with a $2 million product match.
On Tuesday, Nov. 29, for every donation made to the Christian humanitarian organization, Thirty-One Gifts will match the contribution in the form of thermal totes, warm apparel and bags. The items will be distributed to families across Africa, eastern Europe and Central America, in communities where World Vision is working to alleviate poverty and injustice.
“World Vision was awestruck when Thirty-One Gifts decided to double their donation this year, offering to match another $2 million worth of products,” said World Vision’s Senior Director of Corporate Engagement, Jennifer Hawley. “Our hope is that donors are inspired by this generosity, giving World Vision the potential to make a profound impact on poverty this Giving Tuesday.”
Following retail events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday shifts the focus to charitable giving, volunteering and advocacy. The global movement, launched in 2012, leverages the power of social media to encourage individuals and businesses to give back to their communities.
Thirty-One has made World Vision a part of its Giving Tuesday efforts for three years running. In 2014, the Columbus, Ohio-based company provided totes filled with hygiene supplies to women in impoverished communities across the U.S. Last Giving Tuesday, it was blankets for new mothers in Somalia and utility totes for refugees in Armenia. A separate donation from the company supplied utility tote bags to volunteer health educators in Burundi.
“It’s magical when you can put two organizations together to double their reach,” said Wendy Bradshaw, Executive Director of Community Affairs and Philanthropy with Thirty-One Gifts. “It’s as if we have a sister in our goal to help others.”
During the holiday season, one of World Vision’s major initiatives is the World Vision Gift Catalog, which enables shoppers to purchase items or donate to specific projects that impact families in need. In 2016, more than 274,000 donations have been made through the Gift Catalog.