Safe and Sound Schools Joins the Global #GivingTuesday Movement

Pledges to raise money to continue mission of empowering communities to improve school safety

NEWTOWN, Conn. – Nov. 20, 2017 – Safe and Sound Schools has joined #GivingTuesday, a global day of giving that harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities, and organizations to encourage philanthropy and celebrate generosity worldwide. Occurring this year on November 28, #GivingTuesday is held annually on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving (in the US), and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday to kick off the holiday giving season and inspire people to collaborate in improving their local communities and to give back in impactful ways to the charities and causes they support.

Safe and Sounds Schools together with the #GivingTuesday movement empowers people to raise money to help them improve school safety nationwide. On November 28, individuals, communities, and organizations can celebrate worldwide generosity by donating to Safe and Sound Schools through their website or by check at P.O. Box 173, Newtown, CT 06470.

“School safety is everyone’s responsibility, and we need all hands on deck to work together to make a difference,” said Michele Gay, co-founder and executive director of Safe and Sound Schools. “Giving Tuesday is an ideal time to take notice of our own role, whether as a parent, teacher, student, administrator, first responder, or community member, in keeping our schools safe. A little bit of support can go a long way toward making a difference.”

92Y − a cultural center in New York City that, since 1874, has been bringing people together around its core values of community service and giving back − conceptualized #GivingTuesday as a new way of linking individuals and causes to strengthen communities and encourage giving. In 2016, the fifth year of #GivingTuesday, millions of people in 98 countries came together to give back and support the causes they believe in. Over $177 million was raised online to benefit a tremendously broad range of organizations, and much more was given in volunteer hours, donations of food and clothing, and acts of kindness.

“We have been incredibly inspired by the generosity in time, efforts, and ideas that have brought our concept for a worldwide movement into reality,” said Henry Timms, founder of #GivingTuesday and executive director of 92Y. “As we embark on our sixth year of #GivingTuesday, we are encouraged by the early response from partners eager to continue making an impact in this global conversation.”

Those who are interested in joining Safe and Sound Schools’ #GivingTuesday initiative can visit the Safe and Sound Schools website to learn about Safe and Sound Schools’ story and mission. For more details about the #GivingTuesday movement, visit the #GivingTuesday website, Facebook page, or follow @GivingTues and the #GivingTuesday hashtag on social media.

About Safe and Sound Schools Safe and Sound Schools is a non-profit organization founded by Sandy Hook parents who lost their children during the Sandy Hook Elementary tragedy. Winner of the 2015 SBANE New England Innovation Award for nonprofits, Safe and Sound Schools is dedicated to empowering communities to improve school safety through discussion, collaboration, planning, and sharing of information, tools, and resources. To get involved, visit safeandsoundschools.org.

About #GivingTuesday #GivingTuesday is a global giving movement that has been built by individuals, families, organizations, businesses, and communities in all 50 states and in countries around the world. This year, #GivingTuesday falls on November 28. #GivingTuesday harnesses the collective power of a unique blend of partners to transform how people think about, talk about, and participate in the giving season. It inspires people to take collective action to improve their communities, give back in better, smarter ways to the charities and causes they believe in, and help create a better world. #GivingTuesday demonstrates how every act of generosity counts, and that they mean even more when we give together.