Giving Tuesday

Over the weekend, I saw many people post about Black Friday on Facebook. Some video links showed horrific scenes of people stomping over one another while trying to get first dibs on the "deals" that were promised at various stores. Others showed fights amongst people to get as many products in their carts as humanly possible. It was both saddening and frightening to watch it on video, so I can only imagine what it must have been like to see it in person. If I didn't know better, I would have thought people were fighting over food for their families following a natural disaster. Somehow, if it was done with the intent to help their families survive, we would have more compassion. Unfortunately, most of those horrific actions were a result of pure greed.

I use to be in retail for a large department store, and clearly remember how excited people get for our door busters and special deals on Black Friday. That was over 10 years ago, and fortunately for me then, I never witnessed such chaos. What is this world coming to be, and what messages are we sending our children?

It's ironic that Black Friday follows Thanksgiving, the day of the year where we are taught to give thanks and to show gratitude. Thanksgiving may be the day where we come together with families and friends to vocally express our gratitude and celebrate our blessings but gratitude is something we should be practicing 365 days of the year. Actions also speak louder than words, so it is meaningless to say how grateful you are on Thanksgiving day, and then turn around to fight for an iPad at Target the very next day.

Today is Giving Tuesday, a day long national event designed to help charities raise money online. It's a big deal for the philanthropy world as "Black Friday" is for the shopping world. If you've set aside a holiday budget for gifts, decorations, and other things, I urge you to think about the needy as well, and to contribute some of that budget to people in need of basic necessities. Let's not turn a blind eye to those who really need our help out there!

Below are some national/worldwide charities that we support:

American Red Cross
The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
Feeding America
Salvation Army
American Cancer Society
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Habitat for Humanity

And some local San Francisco charities that we support:

Summer Search
Meals on Wheels SF
New Door Ventures
SF SPCA
SF Food Bank

Help spread awareness by using the hashtag #givingtuesday on social media!

Here at Jubilee Lau Events, we've decided to extend Giving Tuesday beyond December 3rd. For any wedding that we book before the end of the 2013 calendar year, we will donate 10% of our fees to the charity of the couple's choice.