Giving Tuesday kicks off with Citizens Bank social media campaign

CITIZENS BANK IS SEEKING to engage givers with #AnExtraPlate, a social media campaign that will provide 100,000 meals to Americans who struggle to put food on their tables. / COURTESY CITIZENS BANK
CITIZENS BANK IS SEEKING to engage givers with #AnExtraPlate, a social media campaign that will provide 100,000 meals to Americans who struggle to put food on their tables. / COURTESY CITIZENS BANK

PROVIDENCE – The #givingtuesday movement got off to a busy start Tuesday with a Citizens Bank social media campaign to promote giving to agencies that feed the hungry, and donations to nonprofits from the CVS Health Foundation.
The #givingtuesday social media campaign is a global effort to promote philanthropy by giving to a charity or community, then tweeting it on Twitter or sharing it on Facebook to encourage others to do the same. Details, including lists of Rhode Island nonprofits and organizations that have specific campaigns, can be found by searching http://www.givingtuesday.org/.
Citizens Bank’s campaign seeks to engage givers with #AnExtraPlate, a social media campaign that will provide 100,000 meals to Americans who struggle to put food on their tables.
The way it works is for a person to set a plate, snap a photo of it, and tweet it out with #AnExtraPlate to @CitizensBank throughout the holiday season. Or on Facebook, share a photo to a timeline with #AnExtraPlate, tag Citizens Bank, and set the post as public. Each time a plate is shared with the bank online, Citizens will donate a meal to a local food bank, up to 100,000 meals.
“The holidays are a time of gathering together with family and friends, often enjoying a meal, but sadly, many aren’t able to participate in this time honored tradition,” said Marc Paulhus, Citizens Bank Rhode Island president. “You may not be able to invite all those who are hungry to your holiday table, but you can help by setting an extra plate for them, and feeding them virtually by participating in #AnExtraPlate.”
The CVS Foundation is donating $100,000 to celebrate #givingtuesday to 50 organizations, including five in Rhode Island. The nonprofits receiving some of that funding include Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ocean State in Cranston; the Northern Rhode Island Food Pantry in Cumberland; Operation Stand Down in Johnston; Shri Service Corps in Pawtucket; and the Tomorrow Fund in Providence.
The Foundation more than doubled its commitment this year, in response to the success of its 2013 campaign, which awarded 25 organizations with a total of $25,000 in #GivingTuesday grants, said Eileen Howard Boone, foundation president.
“#GivingTuesday reminds us that the holiday season is a special time of year to not only give back to our local communities but to recognize those who give back all year long through their commitment to volunteerism,” she said.
The Rhode Island Foundation is not promoting #givingtuesday this year since it launched its own social media campaign, “12 Days of Giving,” instead, said Spokesman Chris Barnett.
“We’re just reminding folks about the importance of philanthropy across a longer time frame,” Barnett said.
Nonetheless, many Rhode Island nonprofits are participating in #givingtuesday, and also soliciting donations as they push out their messages through email blasts as well as social media. Some of the organizations participating include YMCA of Greater Providence, the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, the Providence Community Library, Trinity Repertory Company, Waterfire, Roger Williams Park Zoo and the Sandra Feinstein Gamm Theater in Pawtucket.
With all the activity, Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin is urging people to do research their charity of choice before donating.
“It’s important to think not just with our hearts, but also with our heads this time of year,” Kilmartin said. “The generosity of many Rhode Islanders enables others to have a happy holiday season, but it is important to double check the cause before handing over a contribution. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about the organization’s track record and how your money will be spent.”
Organizations can be verified for legitimacy at www.charitynavigator.organd www.give.org, Kilmartin said. Other tips include not paying bills received from charities unless you’ve made a commitment to support them and finding out how much of the money donated will go toward administrative versus programming costs, he said.

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