It often feels better to give than to receive.
It sounds cliché – but it’s true.
Whether you’re giving to a child, a family member, a friend, a co-worker, or a stranger in need, there’s nothing quite like that warm feeling that washes over you when bringing a smile to the face of another.
On that cheerful note, there are a couple of dates fast approaching to get you in the giving spirit: Giving Tuesday on December 3 (tomorrow!), and Colorado Gives Day on December 10.
Giving Tuesday – Tuesday, December 3
Founded in 2012, GivingTuesday is a global event. It reimagines a world built upon shared humanity and generosity and is inspired by “radical generosity” — the concept that the suffering of others should be as intolerable to us as our own suffering.
A network of local leaders in more than 80 countries – including the United States – and hundreds of communities “innovate, collaborate, and inspire collective generosity as a way to build the world they want to live in.”
GivingTuesday isn’t limited to donating money or a physical item; it could be helping a stranger, showing up to support an issue important to you, or being present with people you care about. Being generous is the key.
Are you in need of some inspiration on how to be generous? Check out these Giving Tuesday resources to ignite your giving passion. It’s important to note too that the GivingTuesday organization doesn’t want to limit giving to one Tuesday a year. Its #GivingEveryTuesday initiative provides a series of weekly opportunities to come together and give in a variety of ways.
Colorado Gives Day – Tuesday, December 10
Whereas Giving Tuesday sports a global reach, Colorado Gives Day focuses on the Rocky Mountain State. Developed by the Colorado Gives Foundation, Colorado Gives Day has provided a platform that Coloradans have used to donate nearly $470M since 2010.
Starting Hearts proudly participates in Colorado Gives Day too! With a mission of saving the lives of sudden cardiac arrest victims, the Colorado-based non-profit organization provides free education in life-saving skills, including the use of CPR and defibrillation; develops widespread access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in public places; implements bystander first responder strategies; and improves outcomes for cardiac arrest victims.
Sudden cardiac arrest is one of the biggest killers in the United States. More than 1,000 people suffer one each day, and only about nine percent survive.
Starting Hearts has its finger on the pulse of how to improve sudden cardiac arrest survival. Prompt bystander intervention – administering CPR and using and an AED – can boost survival by 70%.
Click here to donate to Starting Hearts for Colorado Gives Day or use the QR code below.
It’s a great way to give in this season of giving.
At Starting Hearts, we can provide you with specific training that can make a life-saving difference.
Contact us for more information: info@startinghearts.org.
Patrick Golden is a healthcare writer based in Massachusetts.
