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Pay it forward Dec. 2 during NIU ‘Giving Tuesday’

November 21, 2014

After giving thanks for friends and family, finishing off the pumpkin pie and scoring a few Cyber Monday bargains, Huskies now have an opportunity to extend the spirit of the holiday season with Giving Tuesday.

The goal of Giving Tuesday is to inspire philanthropic giving during the holidays. On Dec. 2, NIU will launch a day-long campaign to celebrate the global holiday so alumni and friends have the opportunity to support an area of campus that means the most to them.

“It’s easy to get caught up in the frenzy of holiday shopping with Black Friday and Cyber Monday. But Giving Tuesday is about taking a moment to remember the spirit of this season – being grateful for what you have and giving back to support something you believe in,” said Sandra Yandle, director of the Northern Fund and coordinator of NIU’s Giving Tuesday efforts.

In honor of Giving Tuesday, the NIU Foundation and Alumni Association have organized 24 hours of social media activities, contests and giveaways that will run throughout the day on the Alumni Association’s Facebook and Twitter pages.

Prizes for the first gift of the day and the largest gift of the day will be awarded.

“We’re really hoping that Giving Tuesday encourages people who are already on social media to get involved on the next level, make a holiday gift to support NIU and share it with all of their friends,” Yandle said.

Any gift made to NIU that day will be matched, thanks to a donation from Lisa and Doug Freeman, who aim to increase general support to the university.

Giving Tuesday officially kicks off at 12:01 a.m. Dec. 2 and concludes at 11:59 p.m. In that time, organizers hope to raise $25,000 to support NIU and its students.

“For our Huskie family, NIU holds special memories and is a place worth supporting, especially as we kick off the holiday season,” Yandle said.

Giving Tuesday traditionally takes place on social media. In addition to planned social media events, the Northern Fund’s student fundraisers will be calling alumni throughout the day.

Launched as an international movement in 2012, Giving Tuesday annually engages more than 10,000 organizations, individuals and communities worldwide. To learn more about Giving Tuesday, visitGivingTuesday.org.

Make your gift on Dec. 2 at NIUFoundation.org/give and share your reasons for giving back on social media using #GivingTuesdayNIU. Check out the day’s events at the Alumni Association’s Facebook, Twitter andInstagram pages.