Ever wondered about the origins of Giving Tuesday? Learn how you can support Lyme disease research and patient resources through donations and volunteer efforts.
Giving Tuesday is a global movement of generosity. Along with Thanksgiving, it bookends the consumer-driven days of Black Friday and Cyber Monday with gratitude and offering. Giving Tuesday is a day for people worldwide to come together, support meaningful causes, and make a positive impact on communities. In the Lyme community, it’s a powerful day to show support for tick-borne disease patients and the researchers working hard to improve their lives.
All Giving Tuesday donations now through 12/32/2024 will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $40,000, thanks to the Bang the Drum Foundation and a private donor. Your gift today counts toward this match and helps us reach our goal! Your support is critical in the fight against Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, especially for our most vulnerable—our children. Thank you for making a difference!
The Origin of Giving Tuesday
Giving Tuesday began in 2012 when the 92nd Street Y in New York and the United Nations Foundation launched it as a day to give back. Giving Tuesday began as a social media campaign. The 92nd Street Y purposefully did not take intellectual property for the hashtag, marketing advice, and resources they created around Giving Tuesday, in hopes that people would spread the word. The movement went viral. In 2012, an estimated $10 million was donated on Giving Tuesday. In 2022, that number reached $3.1 billion in the U.S. alone, with 35 million participants.
Giving Tuesday is now an independent organization, with many domestic and international organizations following its lead with fundraisers and events. This worldwide initiative brings people, organizations, and communities together to give back.
The Impact of Giving on Lyme Disease Research
Giving Tuesday allows nonprofits like Global Lyme Alliance to receive vital financial support for their mission. GLA’s mission is to cure Lyme and other tick-borne diseases through innovative research, awareness, and empowering the patient voice. To date, GLA has awarded over $20 million towards research leading to advances in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of tick-borne disease. GLA-funded researchers were the first to prove the existence of the previously disputed chronic Lyme condition, have decoded the Lyme genome, and have discovered how the disease can survive antibiotic therapy. These advances are made possible from generous donations by people who believe in the power of this research to change lives. (Learn more about GLA’s research initiatives.)
A donation to GLA doesn’t just support groundbreaking research. It also supports awareness campaigns and resources for desperate patients and their families. GLA connects patients and their families to others who have traveled the same road through the Peer-to-Peer Mentorship Programs. The organization offers connections to support groups and a search engine for Lyme Literate Medical Doctors (LLMDs). With lists of financial and educational resources, weekly blogs that showcase the lived patient experience, and a newly launched podcast, GLA works to ensure that patients are heard and their needs are met. None of this would be possible without donations from supporters.
Ways to Get Involved with GLA on Giving Tuesday
Ready to support GLA? There are many ways to help:
- Donate to fund Lyme research. A donation to GLA on Giving Tuesday directly supports groundbreaking research and better treatment options.
- Join the GLA volunteer community. GLA volunteers become peer-to-peer mentors, attend or host events, and help educate the community as ambassadors. (Learn more)
- Spread the Word. Make this blog post go viral like Giving Tuesday! You can share it or create your own, advocating for Lyme research and patient support.
- Start a fundraiser. To rally friends and family around GLA’s mission, you can create a personal fundraiser on social media or on our peer-to-peer page if you wish to curate and promote your very own campaign.
There are many ways to give, whether it’s money, time, or experience. GLA thanks you for your support as we work together to create a Lyme-free world!
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All Giving Tuesday donations now through 12/32/2024 will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $40,000, thanks to the Bang the Drum Foundation and a private donor. Your gift today counts toward this match and helps us reach our goal! Your support is critical in the fight against Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, especially for our most vulnerable—our children. Thank you for making a difference!
