Celebrities support the UK’s first Giving Tuesday
Howard Lake | 26 November 2014 | News
In addition to over 600 charities and companies, celebrity supporters of charities are lending their support to the UK’s first Giving Tuesday campaign which takes place on 2 December.
The campaign, part of a global day of charitable giving and support, encourages people to do at least one thing for a good cause, following the consumer hype of Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
The campaign, spearheaded in the UK by Charities Aid Foundation and Blackbaud, is unusual in that it is devolved and open for any organisation and group to get involved with. So, small charities, voluntary groups or arts organisations can use the Giving Tuesday campaign and logo to promote support for their cause on the day.
Not surprisingly, the celebrities are taking the opportunity of Giving Tuesday to promote the cause that they support, and invite others to join them.
The #unselfie
One hallmark of Giving Tuesday is the #unselfie photo with the #GivingTuesday hashtag, in which an individual can express their support for a particular cause.
Celebrities backing #GivingTuesday
Dame Helen Mirren, Age UK ambassador
“Age UK’s vision is for a world where everyone can love later life. I am proud to support the charity and their participation in the global #GivingTuesday campaign which celebrates and encourages people to support these great causes”.
Michael Palin, long-term supporter of international disability charity Motivation
“On my travels I’ve been to many countries where people with a physical disability are side-lined and ignored; very often seen as cursed and beyond hope. It’s heart-breaking to see a human being discarded like this, just left in a corner of a room without being able to offer any contribution. Motivation is working hard to change this. They don’t just give people the right wheelchairs, they provide training and support to the people who need it most.
“It’s this personal touch that makes Motivation one of the most humanising, and one of the most inspired, charities I know. Please support them by making a donation on #GivingTuesday at motivation.org.uk. Everything you do to help Motivation means that somebody, somewhere, gets their life back.
Dame Kelly Holmes, double Olympic Champion and founder of the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust
It is fantastic that my charity, the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust, is involved with #GivingTuesday. For me, the thing that gets me up in the morning is knowing the complete transformation young people go through when they are mentored by athletes on our programmes. From being out of work, training or education, with low self-esteem and feeling hopeless – to confident, happy individuals who are ready to get out there and be the best they can be.
Joanne Froggatt, patron of Rosie’s Rainbow Fund, which supports sick and disabled children
“I’m so pleased that Rosie’s Rainbow Fund has partnered with #GivingTuesday UK to encourage support for charitable giving – especially during the holiday season. Rosie’s Rainbow Fund was founded to fulfil Rosie Mayling’s wish to help sick and disabled children and raise money for the new children’s hospital in Oxford. Please join with us on 2 December to give your voice and support to charities like Rosie’s Rainbow Fund”.
Lily Cole, founder of Impossible, a social giving network where people can make a wish and help grant other people’s wishes
“A big part of the heartbeat of what we are doing with Impossible is simple – pointing out that giving is really receiving i.e. it makes you happy when you do!”
Samantha Barks, singer and actress who supports Wateraid
“Earlier this year I visited Madagascar with WaterAid where I spent time in a community living without access to safe, clean water or toilets. Thanks to the amazing generosity of WaterAid supporters, three months later WaterAid were able to install toilets and taps into the village transforming the lives of the community living there. I’ve seen for myself how fundraising or volunteering for a charity can help transform lives so please get involved this #GivingTuesday”.
Advertisement
About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.