It’s giving time! 2020 has had its ups and downs for all of us. And several charitable organizations are in desperate need of support. While they’ve been doing their best to keep everyone safe, they’ve also missed out on hosting great fundraising events. Or because many typical patrons are low in income or even out of work, it’s hard for donations based organizations to meet their needs. Non-profits are always asking for support but this year especially. Giving Tuesday is the Tuesday after the Black Friday and Cyber Monday rush, and a great day to give back for all of the abundance, security, and support that you do have. Even if you just give a little bit, your donation to non-profit organizations goes a long way.
I make giving a regular part of my own finances, as well as a built-in part of what we do here at Hurray Kimmay and Hurray Media! In fact, we just started giving 10% of my Wild Woman Circle revenue to a different organization each month! It’s an easy way for us to get our attendees involved in altruism, find and support different organizations, and share those organizations with others so that they can give above and beyond that 10% of their ticket (if they wish!). Below you’ll find a few of my personal go-to organizations, where I consistently donate and give my support. These are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to giving back. And finances are just one form of energy! You can also volunteer, donate physical items, or even share this very blog post and invite others to learn about these organizations. Hurray!
Giving back feels good and is a simple but powerful way to put some hurray in your (and everyone else’s!) day! I believe that giving to others ultimately magnifies what we have. That’s because we are expressing gratitude – which is a magnifier. And we are letting go of fear or a lack mentality by saying, “I trust that I am taken care of and that these funds/items can be given away to someone more in need.” In addition, it’s a way of allowing yourself and others to do great work. When I donate funds, I put the power in the hands of those in the organization to do the amazing work they are doing in the world. It’s a way of letting go of control or my need to “fix or do it all”. I can do what’s within my purpose and my arm’s reach and support those who are using different tools to do their work, too. I can do a lot with my own hands. But I can’t do it all. By donating, we can move toward a shared vision, together.
Let me know which speak to you, or what organizations you choose to support over on Instagram @hurraykimmay! Send me a DM and let’s make giving cool again.
Great Giving & Donation Organizations
Browse these organizations – the regular ones to which I and the Hurray Media organization donates to and/or supports regularly – and see which speak to you! Whether you donate $1, $10, or even $1,000 you are putting some hurray out there in the world. Our finances are fuel to do the good work we want to see in the world. Put it somewhere that matters to you!
Free The Girls
I have donated both bras (hundreds!) and bucks to this amazing organization. Based in the US, this organization has chapters all over the world and regularly rescues and rehabilitates sex trafficked women. I’ve spoken with several folks in their office and love where their heart is at. They use a series of supportive programs and my favorite is that they empower women to have their own bra business so they can provide for themselves, learn skills, and support their community. They really do help women “live a life of true freedom.”
I Support the Girls
Similar name, slightly different approach. This wonderful non-profit is US based and supports people domestically. Specifically, they provide bras and menstrual hygiene products to women and girls experiencing homelessness, sometimes due to fleeing domestic abuse, sometimes another reason and always because “a woman shouldn’t have to choose between feeding herself and her personal health. Every woman should have the ability to maintain her dignity.” Their founder is a real firecracker and I love supporting her and the organization’s hard work with both my bras and dollars!
METAvivor
I can tell you (unfortunately) from personal experience how important the work of METAvivor truly is. Metastatic breast cancer has taken my friend, and many peoples’ loved ones. METAvivor is “dedicated to the specific fight of women and men living with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. At the time of METAvivor’s founding, no organization was dedicated to funding research for the disease and no patient groups were speaking out about the dearth of stage 4 cancer research. While more and more people have taken up the cry for more stage 4 research, METAvivor remains the sole US organization dedicated to awarding annual stage 4 breast cancer research.” Ya’ll. That is huge! I learned about this organization through my colleague at AnaOno and the fashion show they do with them each year, and I can see how they are directly impacting people’s lives through research and community. Join me!
BEAM
Though I’ve always been thoughtful about my donations, in 2020 I knew it was important to diversify and find some that are directly linked to work within social and racial justice movements. BEAM stands for Black Emotional and Mental Health and they describe themselves as “a training, movement building and grant making organization dedicated to the healing, wellness and liberation of Black and marginalized communities.” Mental health is crucial to live a life of hurray, and I’m so pleased to support an organization that specifically works for that for our Black and marginalized citizens!
The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project is “the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people under 25.” 2020 has pushed a lot of people to the brink of depression and feeling alone. The risk for suicide is larger for marginalized youth, who feel especially misunderstood and unsupported. This organization has a vast reach and does amazing work! I love my LGBTQIA+ friends and family so much. Donate to support yours!
Be an #ArtsHero
“Be an #ArtsHero is an intersectional grassroots campaign comprised of Arts & Culture workers, Unions, and institutions in the United States pushing the Senate to allocate proportionate relief to the Arts & Culture sector of the American economy… Our sector employs 5.1 million people and provides $877 billion value added to the economy. It adds more value than transportation, agriculture, or tourism. Our sector is a cornerstone of the larger U.S. economy, making up 4.5% of GDP.” In other words, save our arts and culture and support the creative folks that bring your favorite streaming movies, theater, music, and other amazing things to you! Many of my friends work in the creative arts (I went to school for Musical theater, after all!) and I know some of the folks intimately involved in this. I couldn’t be prouder of the work they are doing. Keep the art in heart. FYI #ArtsHero is 100% volunteer run.
The Astoria Choir
Confession: while I’m connected to several of these projects, this one is very personal to me. Astoria was my home neighborhood in NYC. Officially, “The Astoria Choir has been providing world-class choral music experiences to singers and audiences in Astoria, Queens, since 2010. The non-profit organization’s one hundred volunteer singers come together to rehearse each week and perform music from classical masterworks to world-premieres and commissions.” Unofficially, this choir is my home base. I was on the board, I designed the logo, and I have made some of my best friends and have filled up on making music with dedicated and wonderful humans every Monday for years now, and I miss it terribly. I went back to see my first concert since moving from NYC to Oklahoma and ugly cried in my seat as I watched them sing. They also do amazing work commissioning local female composers, raising funds for at-risk LGBT youth, and promoting the arts in the community. I am even singing with them virtually this year! I adore them and they need our support.
Woodward Arts Theatre
From one hometown arts organization to another! “The Woodward Arts Theatre building was built as a movie house for the new ‘talkies.’ However, from the beginning, the building attracted a diverse crowd and was intended for more than ‘mere’ movies!” Since then, it’s hosted many acts from around the country, as well as local productions. I can really see how it brings the arts to NW Oklahoma, and it’s home to people here who may otherwise feel out of place – including yours truly. In fact, I was made to feel so welcomed here that there was no chance for me to feel alone and unwanted after my big move from NYC – I even sang here and connected with people to whom I’m still great friends! This theater and the programs they provide (including kid’s art camps) are like a beacon of hope in a dusty town. While arts funding is important everywhere, it’s especially important in rural areas like this, which are often cultural deserts. I’m so thankful for this oasis and its wonderful group of supporters. Help me keep the arts going in my new hometown of Woodward, OK!
And YES that’s Hurray Kimmay on the old fashioned marquee! They love me <3
Your Turn: Where do you normally give? Which of these organizations speaks to you? How does giving make you feel? What kind of energy do you want to donate? Remember, Giving Tuesday may be a great time to donate, but any time is a good time. Set up a regular donation intention into your life and watch your hurray spread! Share with me @hurraykimmay!
Credits: Images are from each organization except for the lovely Woodward Arts marquee photo which was taken by Brooklynn Alexander!
