CINCINNATI — For many organizations, Giving Tuesday is all about making a difference in the community. United Way is gearing up for the big day as they continue to advocate for a variety of causes.

What You Need To Know

  • United Way locations across Ohio are gearing up for Giving Tuesday

  • Giving Tuesday is the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving where people are encouraged to give back to local causes

  • This is the 12th anniversary of Giving Tuesday

  • Project Lift is one of the initiatives that United Way of Greater Cincinnati is supporting this year

Nov. 29 marks the 10th anniversary of Giving Tuesday, a global initiative encouraging people to donate to local causes. Across Ohio, United Way is highlighting several organizations. 

The central Ohio location is using its donations for Success by Third Grade Movement. In Cleveland, they’re using their donations to help fund quality early childhood education.

Project Lift is the organization the United Way of Greater Cincinnati is supporting this year. Since 2019, it has helped more than 1,000 families like, Seante in Hamilton County. It’s a public and private partnership with nearly 30 sponsoring organizations, all focused on empowering families in need. 

“Sponsors are really there to help remove barriers and support the families in achieving obstacles and then there is a piece of flexible funding where the sponsor organizations can use funds on behalf of families to help remove barriers,” said Abby Compton-Troesch, a Project Life associate. 

Compton-Troesch is said the flexible funding can help families in need with things like utilities and rent. 

“If someone is just starting out on a new job and they’re not able to make rent this month because they’re not able to get their paycheck in time the sponsor agency can fill that gap by paying for a month of rent for that person as they wait for that first paycheck to come through,” she said. 

Participants are in the program for a year or more. That’s because they want to make sure families have long-term access to the resources they need. 

“I think that’s really what we’ve heard from participants that it’s just different because they get to keep that connection and keep that ongoing support with these agencies,” she said. 

Project Lift is just one of several causes United Way is promoting this Giving Tuesday. United Way of of Greater Cincinnati CEO Moira Weir says this program is all about giving the community what it needs. 

“I really want to empower families to tell us what they want and us to honor that with humility and provide those services, rather than us telling them what they want,” she said. 

Every year their goal is to raise anywhere between $42-$45 million. And they hope to make that happen this year because it’s going to help so many more families in need. 

“It’s really just a way to support folks that are in your community, in Hamilton County that are working toward these goals of financial stability, economic mobility, and well being for their families,” she said. 

For more ways in which you can support click here.