GivingTuesday was created in 2012 with a simple goal: encourage people to do good. Over the past several years, it has become a global movement that inspires people to give, collaborate and celebrate generosity.

This year, GivingTuesday will take place Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020.

If you’re looking for inspiration on how to give back this year, you’ve come to the right place. There are plenty of ways to celebrate GivingTuesday. No matter your schedule or your budget there is a way for everyone to participate and give back!

Whether it’s going out of your way for a stranger, making someone smile, or giving to those who need help, everyone has something to give. Other options include donating blood, becoming an organ donor, volunteering, giving a monetary donation or hosting or participating in a GivingTuesday event.

DONATE TO THE OCHSNER EXCELLENCE FUND & FUND NEW PROJECTS THAT HELP OUR PATIENTS

The Excellence Fund is supported entirely by the generosity of our donors. Annually, teams throughout Ochsner submit applications and a committee selects projects to receive support from the fund.

These projects create opportunities for improvements and innovations in patient care that change and save lives every day. Since 2013, donors have helped support 180 projects, and in 2019 alone donors made 32 innovative projects possible! Click here to make a gift.

DONATE BLOOD

Volunteer blood donors provide all of the blood supply for transfusions throughout the U.S. Every five seconds, donor blood is used to save the lives of babies, leukemia patients, burn victims, trauma patients and so many more. Each donation can save up to three lives, so every drop really does count.

Most donations only take about 40 minutes. This time includes completing a donor registration form, receiving a mini-physical, donating about one pint of blood and enjoying refreshments after.

Your blood donation makes all the difference! Click here to find our upcoming blood drives.

BECOME AN ORGAN DONOR OR SUPPORT A TRANSPLANT PATIENT

Every 10 minutes a new name is added to the national transplant waiting list. Each registered organ donor can save up to nine lives. While 90% of U.S. adults say they support organ donation, only 60% are actually registered.

For many transplant patients, the gift of life is something they think about every day.

• To register to become an organ donor, click here.

• To purchase a meal, help with transportation or medication expenses of transplant patients, click here.

BECOME A VOLUNTEER

Your time and talents are vital to the comfort and care of our patients and their families. Even the smallest service can have far-reaching effects. At Ochsner Health, we take the time to match each volunteer’s interest and skills with departmental needs. Volunteers may choose from a varied choice of patient and non-patient care areas throughout the institution.

If you would like to learn more about volunteering or know someone that may be interested in providing help, hope and healing through their gift of caring, click here.

BECOME A COMMUNITY CHAMPION 

Our Community Champions are a driving force behind advances in patient care and treatment options throughout the region! If you find an area of Ochsner that you are passionate about, choose to host a virtual giveback event, point of sale campaign or Facebook fundraiser for the patients and programs at Ochsner. 

No matter what size your fundraiser is or how many people participate, these events help create awareness and positive change in the lives of our patients and their families.  To learn more on becoming a Community Champion, click here or contact communitychampions@ochsner.org to get started.

PARTICIPATE IN A COMMUNITY EVENT

Each year, Ochsner hosts several fundraising events that raise money to support patient care. Some of our annual events include:

• A Red Tie Affair, which raises funds and awareness of heart health and cardiovascular medicine.

• The Colors of the Mind, which celebrates our brightest medical minds in neuroscience health.

• The Moonlight & Miracles Gala benefitting the Ochsner Cancer Institute, which provides multidisciplinary care for adults and pediatric cancer patients.

• The Crescent City Levee Run benefitting Ochsner Hospital for Children. The funds raised will expand research efforts, improve patient experience and caregiver support for all patients and families being treated at the Ochsner Neuroscience Institute.

DON’T FORGET TO SHARE YOUR GIVING ON SOCIAL MEDIA

When we share our generosity, we inspire others to give back too. Share how you are giving back on GivingTuesday by posting on your social media and using the official #GivingTuesday hashtag.

And if you’re giving to Ochsner, make sure to tag @OchsnerHealth in your public Facebook, Twitter or Instagram posts so we can see and share the good news!

You can join the movement by visiting Ochsner.org/givingtuesday and making a gift – no donation is too small!

Editor's note: This article was originally published on Nov. 21, 2019.