One of the more recent traditions added to the Black Friday Weekend is Giving Tuesday, celebrated the Tuesday following Thanksgiving. Giving Tuesday was initiated in 2012, marking a day after Black Friday and Cyber Monday that shifts the focus from consumerism to philanthropy. The 92nd Street YMCA in New York City, in partnership with the United Nations Foundation, established the day to connect diverse groups of people and organizations to celebrate and encourage all forms of giving.
As Americans mark this year’s Giving Tuesday on Nov. 29, students and adults at the Barber National Institute will be “giving back.”
Adults in Barber National Institute day programs and students in the Elizabeth Lee Black School are volunteering at several organizations on Giving Tuesday, as part of a year-round focus on being active members of the community through volunteer activities.
Today, a group of middle and high school age students from the Elizabeth Lee Black School will be at senior center Brevillier Village, where they visit twice a month to play bingo and duck pin bowling with residents of the facility. Other organizations where student volunteer include the Salvation Army, Second Harvest Food Bank, and the Soldiers and Sailors Home.
I’m so proud that developing a sense of commitment to our community is a priority in our school and in our organization, and that we foster the concept of “giving back” daily with our students and adults.
We are truly grateful that our organization receives tremendous support from the community. Because of this generosity, we are able to carry out our mission to make dreams come true for children and adults with disabilities. We hope that through our volunteer efforts, we pay this kindness forward – not just for one day, but all year long.
All About Autism 
I love that idea of Giving Tuesday. I hadn’t heard of it before. What a great initiative.