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Today is GivingTuesday. Started nearly a decade ago, GivingTuesday is a day designated to encourage generosity, support nonprofits, and give to causes around the world. This year, more than ever, as the pandemic continues to impact people’s lives at all levels, it is essential to contribute in any way we can to help those in need.

That’s why, at Spin, we are participating in GivingTuesday this year by donating $30,000 to organizations supporting those struggling to meet basic needs such as hunger and education. Our goal is to support organizations aligned with our mission and values, not only in the cities where we operate, but around the globe as we strive to make an impact and create a better tomorrow.

“For us, doing the right thing means supporting our communities in anyway we can. This year we’re proud to participate in GivingTuesday, especially during a time when many people are struggling. I’m very proud of our employees for coming together to determine how we can make an impact both locally and globally,” said Derrick Ko, CEO and Co-Founder.

Through the GivingTuesday website, you can find more than 230 campaigns in 75 different countries and several ways to get involved — give your time, talents, or financial support. You can also encourage others to join us today by sharing #GivingTuesday on social media.

Below are the organizations that we’re giving to today. If you’d like to support them, too, we welcome you to join us. On GivingTuesday, consider — if you can — supporting an organization — or organizations — doing good in your community, in your country, or throughout the world.

The New York Times’ Neediest Cases Fund

In April, the New York Times’ Neediest Cases Fund — established in December 1912 by New York Times publisher Adolph S. Och — identified four nonprofit organizations it would raise funds to support as part of their Covid-19 relief efforts. While the NY Times Covid relief drive officially ended this summer, we will be donating to the four organizations originally identified in the New York Times Fund drive.

We appreciate the Times’ research, community approach to giving, and long-time philanthropic investment. As a company with strong New York ties — many of our team members have grown up there or worked there — we felt it was important to give here and have a global reach as well.

• Word Central Kitchen — This org “uses the power of food to heal communities and strengthen economies in times of crisis and beyond. Founded in 2010 to help with relief efforts in Haiti following a major earthquake, this organization has expanded to serve people around the world. As part of their Covid-19 relief efforts, WCK provides meals for people in need while also supporting local restaurants and chefs to produce the meals for their communities,” according to the org’s mission statement.
• The New York Community Trust — This 90 year old nonprofit organization is a grant-making institution that distributes funding to vital New York-area nonprofits helping to make a “healthy, equitable, and thriving community for all.” Last year, the Trust supported more than 5,000 nonprofit organizations and issued more than 11,000 grants. During Covid-19, their NYC Covid-19 Response & Impact Fund has donated more than $110 million in emergency support to 768 New York City-based social services and arts and cultural nonprofits.
• First Book — Pandemic related school closures have hit families experiencing poverty the hardest. First Book aims to get families and under-resourced educators the books and educational materials needed to help them give children and students the education they deserve.
• Feeding America — This largest domestic hunger-relief organization, connecting people with food to end hunger. With an estimated 50 million people in the U.S. facing hunger this year due in large part to the pandemic, Feeding America is an essential part of providing relief: “More than 80 percent, or 4 in 5, food banks are serving more people now than they did a year ago.”

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The Global FoodBanking Network (GFN)

One of the most visible impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic has been a dramatic increase in the need for food banks and access to food. That is particularly acute in communities in parts of the world already facing resource scarcity.

That’s why we have chosen to support the Global FoodBanking Network. GFN works in communities in more than 40 countries around the world where the pandemic has caused massive job loss and where social safety nets are particularly underdeveloped.

“Since the beginning of the pandemic, The Global FoodBanking Network has helped power a strong humanitarian response to the COVID-19 crisis in more than 50 countries. Our network of food banks was able to provide meals to more than 22 million families and individuals facing hunger between March and June 2020,” said Vicki Clarke, vice president of development for GFN.

“Unfortunately, hunger is still on the rise. Thanks to this support, and the support of our donors on #GivingTuesday, we can bring help and hope to millions of hungry people worldwide,” she said.

Find out more about their work or donate.

As we expand internationally with operations in Germany and the UK this year alone, as well as manufacturing in Asia, we believe it is important for us to be good global citizens and do our part to care for those around the world.

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Pizza v. Pandemic

We are supporting Pizza v. Pandemic, a collaboration between three organizations aimed at getting food — in this case, pizza — to frontline workers while supporting small businesses.

These are two priorities Spin cares deeply about as a company. In April 2020, we launched our Everyday Heroes program with free rides for healthcare workers. In May 2020, we featured a support local businesses campaign on our social media like this one in Salt Lake City.

People giving to Pizza v. Pandemic are invited to make a tax-deductible donation and suggest a hospital, care center, or other facility in need. And that money goes to fund pizza orders to be delivered from local businesses to where care workers need it the most. The effort is coordinated by Slice Out Hunger, in collaboration with Pizza to the Polls, and Slice.

“We’re a very small organization with a mostly volunteer team, so it thrilled me beyond belief to hear that Spin had selected us to receive a donation,” said Slice Out Hunger Founder Scott Wiener. “It’s clear that Spin shares our perspective that the ultimate form of citizenship is expressed by response to community need.”

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Now more than ever

GivingTuesday is a reminder of something we should be thinking about every day of the year. And in 2020, it carries with it even more of a sense of urgency. We know not everyone can, but for those who are able, participating in GivingTuesday is one way to help out others in need — and there are so many people this year who need our help. So, join us and give if you can, whether it’s time, money, or talents. And spread the good word about #GivingTuesday.

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