The Center for Childhood Safety (CCS) 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 November 28, #GivingTuesday is held annually on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday to kick off the holiday giving season and inspire people to give back in impactful ways to the charities and causes they support.
This year, CCS’s #GivingTuesday will focus on their safe sleep program. In 2014, 63 infants in Wisconsin died because of unsafe sleep environments. Unsafe sleep environments can mean a variety of things- loose bedding, co-sleeping, soft objects- all things that are avoidable. CCS offers 1-on-1 appointments with caregivers to educate them about safe sleep, and provides as many families as possible with a free, portable crib.
“The Center for Childhood Safety is proud to partner with both Brown County and De Pere health departments to address this issue in our area,” says Kimberly Hess, Executive Director at the Center for Childhood Safety. “However, funding is critical for us to continue to provide these families with what they need to keep their children safe. We’re hoping this #GivingTuesday, we can meet our goal of $5,000 to ensure this program’s success.”
92Y − 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 2016, the fifth year of #GivingTuesday, millions of people in 98 countries came together to give back and support the causes they believe in. Over $177 million was raised online to benefit a tremendously broad range of organizations, and much more was given in volunteer hours, donations of food and clothing, and acts of kindness.
Those who are interested in joining the Center for Childhood Safety’s #GivingTuesday initiative can visit here to make a cash or pack-n-play donation. For more information about safe sleep, or for general childhood safety information, please call the Center for Childhood Safety at 920-272-0110 or visit www.ccsgb.org.