VNU Announces Giving Tuesday Participation

Village Northwest Unlimited joins the Global GivingTuesday Movement

This GivingTuesday, Village Northwest Unlimited will celebrate giving by supporting our “Building on our Promise” campaign.  A campaign designed to improve the quality of life for adults supported by our Intermediate Care Facility for individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (ICF/ID) living on our main campus.  The campaign seeks funding to replace a functionally obsolete (12 bedroom) home with two (6 bedroom) homes specifically designed with modern amenities that support individuals with disabilities.   

GivingTuesday, taking place December 3rd, is a global day of giving that harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities and organizations to encourage giving and to celebrate generosity worldwide. Every year, on GivingTuesday, = millions of people across the globe (almost 60 countries) mobilize to show up, give back, and change their communities. The goal is to create a massive wave of generosity that lasts well beyond that day, and touches every person on the planet.

VNU recognizes that there is power in the global reach of GIVINGTUESDAY.  It is an opportunity to join a worldwide movement that has a direct impact right here in our local community.  Becoming part of GIVINGTUESDAY allows us to share the story of who we are and what we do with a broad audience.  It also gives the loyal supporters of VNU an opportunity to share with other people, within our community and beyond, why supporting VNU is important to them.  We are encouraging anyone who feels passionately about serving adults with disabilities to get involved by telling your story, sharing an encouraging word or thought, becoming a volunteer, or supporting VNU monetarily while encouraging others to do the same.  100% of any donations on GIVINGTUESDAY will go directly to our “Building on our Promise Campaign” at VNU.  Details of that campaign can be found at www.villagenorthwest/capitalcampaign)  Our goal is to spread awareness about how we live out our Mission and Vision daily at VNU, and get others to join us in that endeavor.

Barry Whitsell, CEO remarked- “VNU is excited to be a part of GivingTuesday and allow people to have the opportunity to share their spirit of giving as we strive to bring Purpose, Privacy and Dignity to the people we serve at the Village.  Giving to help others creates such a fulfilling experience for the person giving.  In the end they feel good about giving back to others and they know that they have made a difference.  The power that can be unleashed by sharing and giving has been demonstrated at the Village since 1975 when VNU was founded.  Through the years each and every gift from the smallest to the largest have all been combined to make the Village one of the premier providers of services to people with disabilities.  So, people can see firsthand the impact of their gifts no matter the size.  I would encourage everyone to participate in GivingTuesday whether it be to the Village or some other charity because giving is a privilege and a source of great personal pride.”

Founded in 2012, GivingTuesday has inspired millions of people to give back and support the causes they believe in. Over $400 million was raised online in 2018 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.

"When GT launched in the US in 2012, we believed that technology and social media could be used to make generosity go viral;" said Asha Curran, GivingTuesday's CEO and co-founder. "We believed in the idea that people fundamentally want to give and to talk about giving; and that the social sector had the capacity to show more innovative leadership, creativity, and collaboration. People and organizations around the world proved us right. As we prepare for December 3, we're energized and encouraged by the community's generosity. The levels of creativity, effort and the quality of the new ideas people have contributed and shared are phenomenal."

Those who are interested in joining Village Northwest Unlimited's GivingTuesday initiative can visit www.villagenorthwest.org/givingtuesday. For more details about the GivingTuesday movement, visit the GivingTuesday website (www.givingtuesday.org), Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/GivingTuesday) or follow @GivingTuesday and the #GivingTuesday hashtag on Twitter.

About Village Northwest Unlimited

Village Northwest Unlimited is nationally recognized as one of the premier providers of services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorder and traumatic brain injuries. The Village builds successful lives for 180 individuals by providing opportunities and choices in residential, vocational and social programs while fulfilling its mission of providing Purpose, Privacy and Dignity.

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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. 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.

To learn more about GivingTuesday participants and activities or to join the celebration of giving, please visit:

Website:

www.givingtuesday.org

www.villagenorthwest.org/givingtuesday

Facebook:

www.facebook.com/GivngTuesday

www.facebook.com/village.northwest

Twitter:

twitter.com/GivingTuesday

twitter.com/VNU_Iowa