Giving. Tuesday and in general.

Giving Tuesday got smartly invented by the 92nd St Y and the U.N. Foundation before it spun off into its own non-profit. Or it was the brainchild of a Chicago theater company. Whichever, the idea that the non-profit world ought to benefit from the onslaught of spending that goes on after Thanksgiving was a good one. It has become a drill in the fundraising world. A d-day of sorts - capture that end of year “tax-incentivized” money people have to give away before the end of 2020.

I am not a tax expert but I don’t think the present government is giving us much incentive to give. We give because we know that if we have enough, it is incumbent on us to give to those less fortunate. Or perhaps we know that without arts and culture our city and our lives would be less worthwhile, less joyous, less…

Perhaps you heard the report on WNYC’s Brian Lehrer Show about La Jornada in Flushing, a food pantry that moved into new facilities at the beginning of the Covid crisis and served over 100,000 meals in 99 days. On the day their director was interviewed, in the richest country in the world, people were lined up for blocks, in the rain, to feed their families.

Over the 30+ years I ran non-profit cultural organizations, I was always struck by this apparent bifurcation between the immediate needs that feed the body and the ones that feed the soul. We need both. Yes, food and shelter are key. But to be a human being we need more. We need community, joy, beauty, and a way to express ourselves.

Speaking of joy and beauty, I see among people here in NY, who actually can manage more than the fundamentals, that flowers are not considered essential even though they beautify your space and ACTUALLY LOWER YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE (a health benefit for sure.). In other cultures, flowers are considered essential. Japan in particular - perhaps because flowers are part of spiritual practice. I’m not sure how to get this idea across. You who appreciate flowers in your life, I welcome your suggestions.

But back to the subject of the day. Giving. Tuesday. (And every day.) Thinking short term AND long.

Here are a few of my favorite non-profits if you are looking for small organizations who will DEEPLY benefit from your support:

Hook Arts Media - supporting young people in learning to express themselves through digital media AND training them for jobs in the media industry!

Camp Shutaf - dedicated to providing quality, inclusive services for children, teens, and young adults with disabilities, regardless of labels and perceived functioning differences, while inspiring and educating others towards the acceptance and inclusion of all members of the community.

Ladies of Hope Ministries whose mission is to help disenfranchised and marginalized women and girls transition back into society through resources and access to high-quality education, entrepreneurship, spiritual empowerment, advocacy and housing.

Dance/NYC -whose mission is to promote the knowledge, appreciation, practice, and performance of dance in the metropolitan New York City area. I come from the dance world and it is still (and always) where my heart is. As I like to say, flowers are like dancers, only quieter…

Give as you can. And get yourself some flowers. They will improve your disposition and you deserve them! .