Giving Tuesday: A Chance to Give Back During the Holiday Season

Will donating to charity ever be as popular as shopping during the holiday season?

A partnership of nonprofits hopes so with a new campaign called Giving Tuesday.

For many people, the holiday shopping marathon began on Thanksgiving day, with some national chains opening their doors just hours after the traditional turkey dinner. Then came Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday, which has morphed into Cyber Week.

Coming on the heels of days devoted to consumerism, Giving Tuesday is designed to create a national day of giving at the start of the annual holiday season. It celebrates and encourages charitable activities that support nonprofit organizations.

Several Pennsylvania-based nonprofits are among those using their websites and social media networks to kick off the inaugural effort. They include organizations such as the Pennsylvania SPCA, Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation and The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Eastern Pennsylvania.

Donors are encouraged to use the Twitter hashtag #GivingTuesday to help spread the word.

What do you think? Can a social media push get people giving more of their money and time to charities during the holiday season?