As we come to a close on this season’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday, you can choose to continue the holiday spirit by following up with #givingtuesday™! 

This is news to me! What exactly is #GivingTuesday™?

“#GivingTuesday™ (#GT) is a movement to create a national day of giving to kick off the giving season added to the calendar on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The second annual GivingTuesday is on December 3, 2013. In the same way that retail stores take part in Black Friday, we want the giving community to come together for #GivingTuesday. We ask that partners create and commit to a project for/on #GivingTuesday and then help spread the word to their networks.”
—www.givingtuesday.org

This year, join users from around the web in creating an #unselfie. Instead of snapping photos of yourself to post online (AKA: the selfie—the word of the year according to the Oxford English Dictionary), share images of what cause (or causes) you plan to support this #givingtuesday, or are currently supporting. Whether you are donating money to an organization of your choice or volunteering locally, make your movement go viral.

What exactly does an “Unselfie” require this #GivingTuesday™?

• On a piece of paper, simply (and clearly) write the name of the cause (or causes) of your choice that you will be volunteering at and/or supporting this holiday season.
• Now, because #givingtuesday is strictly about the cause, hold the piece of paper displaying the name of your cause or organization directly in front of your face and snap a photo.
• Add the hashtags #givingtuesday and #unselfie accordingly and share via Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or any social networking site of your choice! For a more customized approach to see other individuals around the world who believe in your cause and support the movement, hashtag the name of your organization when posting your #unselfie. (for example: #UNICEF)
• Follow up with your organization or cause’s progress worldwide by tracking the hashtags #givingtuesday and #unselfie. 

Remember!:
The #unselfie movement relies on the tradition of giving in anonymity—this guarantees that all #givingtuesday acts occur in the right spirit.
In order for your photo to be fully accepted as an act of #givingtuesday, the name of your cause must be directly in front of your face!

For more information on specific guidelines of this #givingtuesday and how to get involved, click here.