Girl Scouts of Western New York has joined #GivingTuesday, a global day of giving that harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities and organizations to encourage philanthropy and to celebrate generosity worldwide.

Occurring this year on Nov. 29, #GivingTuesday is held annually on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving (in the U.S.) 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. This global day of giving harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities and organizations to encourage philanthropy and to celebrate generosity worldwide.

Girl Scouts of Western New York is the region’s preeminent girl leadership organization dedicated to girls, helping every girl discover who she can be by providing the Girl Scout Leadership Experience.

A girl’s leadership potential blooms among other girls — away from school pressures, social cliques, and boys — where she can be herself and try new things. Girl Scout activities are girl-led. She learns by doing, and the learning is cooperative, not competitive. Girl Scouts help provide young women the confidence and the tools to lead — to find, inside the uncertain girl, the citizen who will make a difference in her world.

Hannah and Addie shared their Girl Scout experience.

“We both have been doing Girl Scouts for as long as possible. It has always been a fun place to learn and try new things. Among our favorite Girl Scout experiences were Camp Piperwood and cookie selling. We learned how to manage money and speaking skills. We also liked making cards for soldiers and centerpieces for the Sojourner House. It taught us about helping others and volunteering. Another activity we participated in was the make your own Girl Scout badge. We created a Helping the Environment badge and cleaned up trash at the Pittsford Rec Center.”

Girl Scout alumnae Liz McGough also had a powerful experience.

“As a former Girl Scout I can truly say that through my childhood and teenage years Girl Scouts was the only place I was good enough, capable and competent. It was the only place I was accepted for who I was. I believe that Girl Scouts saved my life.”

Stories like these show the importance of fundraising campaigns like Giving Tuesday. Empowering girls to reach their fullest potential and succeed will help society and build a better world.

92Y is 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 2015, the fourth year of the movement, #GivingTuesday brought together over 45,000 partners in 71 countries and helped raise nearly $117 million online in the U.S. alone.

“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 fifth 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 Girl Scouts of Western New York’s #GivingTuesday initiative can visit gswny.org.