by C. Eliana Brown, RORG Director
The Red Oak Rain Garden celebrates GivingTuesday with a campaign to fund a RORG Maintenance Endowment. On November 29, 2022, we join millions around the world participating in the GivingTuesday global generosity movement.
GivingTuesday reimagines a world built upon shared humanity and generosity. Their global network inspires generosity around the world, with a common mission to build a world where generosity is part of everyday life. The season kicks off this year with the inspiration to give back on November 29 and throughout the year. GivingTuesday is a great opportunity for the team to thank all of our contributors and partners and hopefully inspire others to join in during this season of giving to contribute to the RORG Maintenance Endowment.
Rain garden maintenance isn’t the flashiest of causes. However, the lack of it can be a significant barrier to building ecological landscapes. At RORG, we are fortunate to have wonderful student and community volunteers via the Champaign County Master Gardeners and the East-Central Illinois Master Naturalists that provide care. We also partner with the university’s Facilities & Services Grounds department, which complements our volunteer efforts. Tasks that go beyond Grounds’ normal job duties require compensation. Therefore, Extension established a maintenance endowment to ensure sustainable funding that overcomes barriers to lasting stewardship today and for the years to come. We’re happy to say that we are a third of the way towards meeting our fund goal!
People demonstrate generosity in many ways on GivingTuesday. Whether it’s helping out a neighbor or stranger, showing up for the people we care about, or giving to causes we value, every act of generosity counts. GivingTuesday has raised billions of dollars for critical causes around the world and inspires people and organizations to speak up for the causes that matter to them and encourage others to get involved in their communities.
“GivingTuesday inspires people all around the world to embrace their power to drive progress around the causes they care about, not just on one day but throughout the year,” said Asha Curran, GivingTuesday’s CEO, and co-founder. “With country and community leaders, millions of organizations, and countless givers of all kinds, GivingTuesday is creating a shared space where we can see the radical implications of a more generous world.”
Here is how you can get ready to give:
- Mark your calendar. GivingTuesday is November 29!
- Give. On November 29, visit the Extension donation page and select “Red Oak Rain Garden” as the specific program. More information is at our donation hub.
- Spread the word. Encourage your friends and family to join you in creating a real impact on November 29 by sharing what our mission means to you and why you support our organization. Make sure to use the hashtag #GivingTuesday and tag us so we can share!
Those who are interested in joining Red Oak Rain Garden’s GivingTuesday initiative can visit extension.illinois.edu/giftpage. For more details about the GivingTuesday movement, visit the GivingTuesday website, Facebook page, or Twitter account.
Photo by Layne Knoche.
About the Red Oak Rain Garden
The Red Oak Rain Garden soaks up rainwater, enhances the campus and community aesthetic and educational experience, and promotes well-being for everyone who visits.
As part of Illinois Extension and Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, the Red Oak Rain Garden Team believes in providing excellence in educational programming and providing accessible programs that help people solve problems. The rain garden does both! The Team creates service-learning opportunities for students and community volunteers and inspires visitors to find out how they can create healthier landscapes where they live.
About GivingTuesday
GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world. GivingTuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Over the past ten years, it has grown into a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.
Whether it’s making someone smile, helping a neighbor or stranger out, showing up for an issue or people we care about, or giving some of what we have to those who need our help, every act of generosity counts and everyone has something to give. GivingTuesday strives to build a world in which the catalytic power of generosity is at the heart of the society we build together, unlocking dignity, opportunity and equity around the globe.
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