By: Kristen McConnell—
Muncie, IN—The YMCA of Muncie joins the Global #GivingTuesday Movement and pledges to raise awareness and funds to support Apple Tree YMCA’s Kindergarten Readiness Program
The YMCA of Muncie has joined #GivingTuesday, a global day of giving that harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities and organizations to encourage philanthropy and to celebrate generosity worldwide. Apple Tree YMCA’s early education program provides matching funds to allow underserved youth in our community the opportunity to become kindergarten ready.
Occurring this year on November 29, #GivingTuesday is held annually on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving (in the U.S.) and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday to kick-off the holiday giving season and inspire people to collaborate in improving their local communities and to give back in impactful ways to the charities and causes they support.
This is the YMCA of Muncie’s second year participating in #GivingTuesday. In 2015 they raised $2,400 for kindergarten readiness and this year our goal is $5,000. If we can get kids in our community ready to go to school and have the resources they need, our entire community benefits.
Statistics show that kids who are ready for Kindergarten are:
- 17% more likely to graduate High School
- 4 times more likely to graduate from college
- 20% more likely to earn a strong salary by age 40
- 46% more likely to have a full time job
- 19% less likely to be arrested
92Y − a cultural center in New York City that, since 1874, has been bringing people together around its core values of community service and giving back − conceptualized #GivingTuesday as a new way of linking individuals and causes to strengthen communities and encourage giving. In 2015, the fourth year of the movement, #GivingTuesday brought together over 45,000 partners in 71 countries and helped raise nearly $117 Million online in the US alone.
“We have been incredibly inspired by the generosity in time, efforts and ideas that have brought our concept for a worldwide movement into reality,” said Henry Timms, founder of #GivingTuesday and executive director of 92Y. “As we embark on our fifth year of #GivingTuesday, we are encouraged by the early response from partners eager to continue making an impact in this global conversation.”
Those who are interested in joining the YMCA of Muncie’s #GivingTuesday initiative can visit www.muncieymca.org.
For more details about the #GivingTuesday movement, visit the #GivingTuesday website (www.givingtuesday.org), Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/GivingTuesday) or follow @GivingTues and the #GivingTuesday hashtag on social media.
Kristen McConnell is Development & Marketing Director, YMCA of Muncie
