Dear Athenian Families:
Grandma Jay, Eric, Meg, Cade, Uncle Mike
Thanksgiving 2013
I hope you have had a wonderful Thanksgiving break with your children. Meg and I certainly had a restful few days surrounded by friends and family. We know how much we have to be thankful for living and working in this Athenian community.
At The Athenian School, we’ve understood for a long time the importance of giving back. Our students not only study the world – they also work to change it for the better. This year, on Tuesday, December 3, 2013, Athenian is joining a call to action that will change the calendar and help make history. We are celebrating a day dedicated to giving when charities, families, businesses, community centers, students, retailers and more will all come together for #GivingTuesday – a movement to celebrate giving and encourage more, better and smarter giving during the Holiday Season that we are proud to be part of.
I invite you to join us on #GivingTuesday as hundreds of Athenian alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and students celebrate the spirit of service and philanthropy that is at the core of what it means to be part of the Athenian community. Certainly, if you haven’t yet given to the Athenian Annual fund, please consider giving today. Know that this gift allows us to better deliver the unique Athenian School education that you have come to expect.
Please see below for more information on #GivingTuesday and for ways to get your family involved.
Sincerely,
Eric Niles, Head of School
More About #GivingTuesday
A team of recognized experts and influencers, initially convened by leaders of 92nd Street Y and supported by a core group of founding partners, originally spearheaded this effort. Founding partners in 2012 included United Nations Foundation, DonorsChoose.org, Mashable, Blackbaud, charity: water, GlobalGiving, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), Kiva, Darden Restaurant Group, Groupon, Unilever and VentureThree Capital. Leaders in philanthropy, social media, innovative giving, grassroots organizing, marketing and communications are providing counsel and resources to help build this movement.
“#GivingTuesday is a counter narrative to Black Friday and Cyber Monday because it reminds us that the spirit of the holiday giving season should be about community and not just consumerism,” said Kathy Calvin, CEO of the UN Foundation. “The most meaningful gift we can give our children, loved ones, friends and neighbors is the commitment to work together to help build a better world.”
Ideas to Involve the Family
Have a family conversation about your favorite foods and the healthy foods you having been trying to eat. Take some of those foods from your cabinets (non perishable) and bring them to your local food pantry.
Take an #UNselfie! How? Take a “selfie” with a caption explaining how or why you and your friends are “giving” this year. Use #Unselfie and #Athenian so we can find your photo.
Home Treasure Hunt! Look in your closets at home. Collect what is not being used, what hasn’t been used in a long time, and the extras you have, and donate to a program that sets up families in new homes.
“Change of Season” – At the beginning of each new season, think of one specific item that is needed. For instance, gloves and hats for winter, socks for fall, T-shirts for summer, etc. Do a collection in your neighborhood, building, or school for just that one item and donate.
Hold a neighborhood yard or bake sale and donate proceeds to an organization in need.
For an entire week or two, everyone in the family skips the “extras.” Take the money you would have spent on after school treats, a special ice cream, or coffees from your favorite vendor, and collect it all in a jar. Watch it mount and donate to your local food pantry to help others get the essentials foods they need.
Want more? Check out these tips and ideas:
The Athenian School Blog 