UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — For the fourth year, following the consumer-focused Black Friday and Cyber Monday, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving will be celebrated worldwide as Giving Tuesday, a day to recognize and support nonprofit organizations. This year, Tuesday, Dec. 1, marks Penn State’s second year of participation, and the first focused on supporting the student-centered University Libraries’ textbook fund.
The purpose of the fund is to acquire textbooks and other course materials for students’ use. While it eases non-tuition costs for students with financial need, the textbook fund benefits all students by providing enhanced access to required course materials.
Penn State Annual Giving’s online-focused Giving Tuesday pilot program includes the Libraries as one of three University areas of special focus. Outreach via email and social media will encourage donors to donate online at giveto.psu.edu/givingtuesday.
Especially noteworthy is that charitable contributions to the Libraries will have double the value during the Giving Tuesday campaign, which kicks off with the annual Day of Philanthropy during the week of Nov. 15. The Penn State Bookstore on campus, managed by Barnes & Noble, has pledged to match gifts to the Libraries dollar-for-dollar up to $10,000.
To help the Libraries build awareness of the value of its Giving Tuesday donor-matching opportunity, social media users can help spread the word about the event using the hashtag #PSUGivingTue on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. (Follow the University Libraries at facebook.com/psulibs and @psulibs on Instagram and Twitter.) Social media users also will have the opportunity to earn points and chances for prizes through the online platform SocialToaster.com.
In advance of Giving Tuesday, the Libraries are celebrating the Day of Philanthropy on Tuesday, Nov. 17, marking the start of its awareness campaign for the textbook fundraising event. Both the Day of Philanthropy and Giving Tuesday celebrate the generosity of Libraries donors and the impact of philanthropy on the faculty, staff and students of Penn State. For more information, including ways to give, visit giveto.psu.edu/givingtuesday.