In addition to today being Cinco De Mayo, it’s also the long awaited North Texas Giving Tuesday Now. Since the gates officially opened at 6 a.m., more than $5.75M has been donated for more than 3,000 nonprofits. Some nonprofits even have matching fund challenges!
Topping the leader board is North Texas Food Bank with a whopping $895,369 thanks to 2,366 gifts.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was not only created to support area nonprofits, it’s taking place in the virtual universe. That means that there will be special happenings, but online. Here’s a rundown of the events that are free for the viewing and hopeful for donations:
- 10 a.m. — The Arts Foundation of St. Andrews Benefit Concert on Facebook Live, benefiting The Storehouse of Collin County, featuring Imperial Brass, Chris Widomski, Ladies Liberty Show Troupe, Yumiko Endo Schlaffer, Kaylyn Wilson, Noah Bales, Michael Agnew, Megan Koch, Lucik Aprahamian, Martha Walvoord and Krista Miller. It will broadcast here.
- 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 3:30 to 5 p.m. — Encouraging Notes and Card Shower: a family-friendly virtual event benefiting The Senior Source where volunteers create homemade cards and notes of encouragement to delight the residents and staff at a senior living facility. Participants will gather via GoToMeeting.
- 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. — Arlington Tomorrow Foundation and Levitt Pavilion’s Live Stream Concert, featuring the Brad Russell Band at 11 a.m., September Moon at 1 p.m., Steve Helms at 4 p.m., Latin Express at 5:30 p.m., and Sara Hickman at 7 p.m. The concerts will be live-streamed on the Levitt Pavilion’s Facebook and Instagram pages.
- 6:30 p.m. — The Concert for North Texas Giving Tuesday Now, partnering with the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, the Communities Foundation of Texas, the Dallas Cowboys and Caroline Kraddick. CBS 11 will present a living room concert with Josh Abbott; Ryan Cabrera; Jaret Reddickof Bowling for Soup; American Idol’s Jason Castro and Michael Castro; Caroline Kraddick; Leighton Fields and Abraham Alexander.
- Various times, meal delivery to healthcare heroes: the Thanks-Giving Foundation, through its Serving Up Gratitude Initiative, will be delivering more than 1,000 meals to Dallas’ five major hospitals: Parkland (11:30 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. deliveries), Presbyterian – Main Dallas (Walnut Hill) (11 a.m. and 7 p.m. deliveries), Baylor (11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. deliveries), Methodist Dallas (11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. deliveries) and Medical City Dallas (11 a.m. and 8 p.m. deliveries).
And even if you’re down on your finances, consider donating volunteer hours. They’re priceless.
* Graphic courtesy of North Texas Giving Tuesday Now