Monterey, CA Charitable Giving Up 90% On #GivingTuesday, Says Blackbaud

View From A Nonprofit Serving Seniors In Carmel, Carmel Valley, Gonzalez, Greenfield, King City, Marina, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Pebble Beach, Salinas, Seaside And Soledad California

Thanks to everyone who donated to nonprofits on #GivingTuesday, a program started last year to encourage people to give to charity after the huge campaigns for Black Friday and Cyber Monday following Thanksgiving.  According to Blackbaud, the program was a huge success in 2013, with giving up a massive 90% from $10.1 million in 2012 to $19.2 million this year.  The average online gift was up more than 40% from $101.60 in 2012 to $142.05 in 2013.  These are amazing results given that the National Retail Federation said that Black Friday holiday spending at for profits was down 3%.  "The growth in online giving during #GivingTuesday exceeded everyone's expectations," Steve MacLauglin, director of the Idea Lab at Blackbaud, told USA Today.  "This is a very positive sign as non-profits head into a very busy fundraising season," he said.  If you are thinking about giving to charity this tax year, we hope that you will support us and help us help seniors by making a donation to Hands to Help Seniors.  We have been chosen by the Community Foundation to participate in a matching funds program called Birdies for Charity, which is done in conjunction with the AT&T Pro Am golf tournament. This will occur between February 6-9, 2014. You can help in one of two ways. You can pledge an amount "per birdie". For example, if 1,800 birdies are made during the tournament, you would be committed to contribute $18. This past year, 1,823 birdies were made. In addition, you can make a cash donation at the following web site:

https://events.r2it.com/birdies/r.aspx?site=ATTPebbleBeach&charity=HandstoHelpSeniors