WHAT IS GIVING TUESDAY?

In a world that often seems to be moving too fast, there is a day that encourages us to pause, reflect, and extend a helping hand to those in need. Giving Tuesday is celebrated annually on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving. It is a global movement that shows the extent of the power of generosity and compassion by empowering people to give back to a cause that resonates with them. Giving Tuesday isn’t just about making monetary donations, it’s about supporting causes an individual cares about in any way that they can. Whether it’s volunteering time at a local shelter, creating awareness of a cause, donating to a local charity, or organizing a community event, everyone can contribute in a meaningful way. The idea is that every act of kindness, regardless of its scale, makes a difference.

How did Giving Tuesday start?

As the holiday season kicks off with big consumer spending during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, bystanders noticed that it was the perfect opportunity to step away from shopping and consumerism to do something a little more meaningful. The initiative was officially launched in 2012 by the 92nd Street Y, a cultural and community center in New York City, in partnership with the United Nations Foundation. It quickly became a global movement that brought people together in the spirit of philanthropy. Giving Tuesday has become a day that urges individuals, organizations, and businesses to shift their focus from materialism to acts of kindness and giving back. 

One of the key factors that contribute to the success of Giving Tuesday is its use of social media. The hashtag #GivingTuesday has become a call to action for those looking to make a positive impact. At first, the hashtag was just a publicity idea, a branding tool for other organizations that wanted to participate. With it, 92nd Street Y developed resources and marketing advice for any nonprofit to use. People all across social media have since taken to their platforms to share their acts of generosity, utilizing the hashtag and inspiring others to do the same. 

How can you get involved locally?

West Michigan and the Grand Rapids area are hotbeds of ways to participate in Giving Tuesday! If you’re looking to participate financially, right now Feeding America West Michigan is matching your monetary donation for families facing hunger this holiday season. That means that your gift will have double the impact to provide nutritious meals for our neighbors in West Michigan and beyond. Another great monetary or item donation is Toys for Tots Kent County MI.  Toys for Tots is helping to bring joy to the less fortunate children in our community this holiday season. You can donate monetarily on their website or bring an unwrapped toy to a drop-off center near you. All of the KDLs are drop-off points as well as Berger Chevy! Berger Chevrolet has been honored to be selected as a Toys for Tots drop-off location for over a decade. Click here to find a drop-off near you! If you have any leftover canned goods from this year’s Thanksgiving dinner you can drop them off at a local food bank, church, or nonprofits like Family Promise to ensure that families in West Michigan have enough to eat this holiday season. 

Another great way to participate in Giving Tuesday is by donating your time to a cause you relate to. Organizations like Meaning in Colors are always looking for volunteers to mentor a youth or young adult. They strive to provide resources and services for individuals who may be struggling with academic, personal, or professional growth. Kids’ Food Basket has daily volunteer options from decorating paper lunch bags at home to making or packing Sack Suppers to provide nutritious meals for kids in West Michigan. 

And remember, if you’re unable to donate or volunteer on Giving Tuesday, sharing information about local causes on social media can help them reach a wider audience and create more awareness about their cause! 

How has the Berger Team given back to the community throughout 2023?

We support our community because we are our community. We’ve been serving West Michigan’s automotive needs for nearly 100 years. You’ve trusted us, and we want to give back to you! As part of our Berger Gives Back campaign we aim to give back to the West Michigan community all year round. We do this by highlighting or volunteering with one nonprofit every month. 

We got the chance to partner with PAWS for a Cause. PAWS custom trains assistance dogs for people with disabilities to help improve their quality of life. We were fortunate enough to be able to sponsor a litter of pups that now carry the names of popular Chevy models like Blazer and Sparky. Check out our video to learn more!

This year we were able to do a lot with Kids’ Food Basket. From volunteering with the Snack Supper program to decorating paper lunch bags for the meals to be delivered in, our team here at Berger rallied together to decorate over 1,000 lunch bags this year! 

Berger is proud to be an annual sponsor of the GR Fire Department vs. GR Police Department’s rivalry hockey game at Van Andel Arena to help raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Together, with the West Michigan Community we were able to help raise over $20,000 for the cause. 

The Michigan Rangers joined the NPSL this year as the only team from Grand Rapids and we are proud to be their Title Sponsor! They have been representing Grand Rapids in the Midwest Region Great Lakes Conference. 

We had a par-tee at Scott Lake Gold Club as we raised money for Boys & Girls Clubs of Grand Rapids Youth Commonwealth (BGCGR). Together, with the help of some other Grand Rapids businesses we were able to raise nearly $40,000 for their Drive for Success Program. This program offers driver’s education at no cost to teen BGCGR members.

Back-to-school time can be challenging for many families when it comes to purchasing school supplies, that’s why our awesome employees came together to collect school supplies for Heart of West Michigan United Way’s Stuff the Bus campaign. By collecting school supply donations from Berger employees and the West Michigan Community, we were able to help provide kids with the items they need to succeed in the classroom.

In collaboration with HUB Internationals, we joined the HUB Red Paper Clip Challenge to help support Hope Network, an organization dedicated to empowering people in the community to overcome challenges. 

This football season we had the opportunity to partner with Ally and State Champs in a “Ticket Takeover” for the 2023 East Grand Rapids vs. Lowell high school football game at Memorial Field. Through our partnership with Ally, we were able to support two local teams and cover the cost of tickets for the first 300 fans!

During Heart of West Michigan United Way’s Day of Caring, we were given the opportunity to spread awareness about Treetops Collective, a local nonprofit that connects with and invests in New American (refugee) women leaders. Together, we’re working to transform our communities into places of belonging.

Family Promise is committed to never splitting up a family and we were lucky enough to get to learn a little more about their efforts to end the cycle of family homelessness while volunteering at their headquarters on Cherry St. Their mission is to give parents the hope, connections, and encouragement they need to help create a better future for their children. 

Why does Beger partner with FOX17 Morning Mix?

We partnered with FOX17 Morning Mix for the third year in a row to uplift our community and help support local nonprofits by sponsoring them with a platform to share their story. For our first segment of the year, we featured New Growth Project (NGP). New Growth Project cultivates job opportunities on their 20-acre farm for neuro-diverse employees who may otherwise struggle to find employment. Right now 81% of individuals with an intellectual developmental disability are unemployed. New Growth project is actively working to lower that percentage. Click here to see the segment!

This summer we partnered with Heart of West Michigan United Way and FOX17 Morning Mix to support local non-profit, Meaning in Colors through our Berger Brings the Basics Campaign. Meaning in Colors’ goal is to provide resources and services for individuals who may be struggling with academic, personal, or professional growth. Berger employees brought in all kinds of household basic items to help support their awesome cause. Watch our segment to learn more!

Recently, we were able to partner with a local non-profit, VETSports West Michigan to help raise awareness and funds for local Michigan veterans. FOX17 Morning Mix joined us in sharing VETSports’ mission for helping veterans achieve better physical, mental, and emotional health. We helped to raise over $600 to help provide continuous opportunities for veterans to reintegrate into their communities through sports, community service, events, and partnerships. Click here to check out our segment!

Every Christmas Season, Toys for Tots spreads hope to less fortunate children through the gift of a brand-new toy. As a donation-based charity, they collect new, unwrapped toys to distribute them to families in need. As a donation drop-off center, Berger is proud to work with the Toys for Tots Foundation to help bring a little extra holiday cheer to less fortunate children in our community. Click here to watch our segment with FOX17 Morning Mix!

If any of these causes are something that speaks to you, you’d like to learn more or get involved, please visit our Berger Gives Back page to learn more!

Giving Tuesday is proof that no matter what is going on in the world, the spirit of kindness and generosity can prevail. It is a reminder of the power we hold to help create positive change for us, our community, and the world around us. As we navigate through the hustle and bustle of the upcoming season, Giving Tuesday reminds us to embrace the true spirit of the holidays by making it a day of selflessness, empathy, and humanity. 

Toys for Tots Interview