LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Since 2016, the Community Foundation of West Texas has led the charge when it comes to Giving Tuesday in the area.
“We’ve raised over $3 million dollars for through the region through Giving Tuesday,” community foundation president Stephen Warren said, “which means small non-profits, medium and large non-profits are benefiting through these funds, people’s great generosity.”
60 area non-profits are under the foundation’s Giving Tuesday umbrella this year, including the Volunteer Center of Lubbock. Its executive director, Emily Smith, knows just how much money raised through this initiative means for West Texas.
“All of our causes are different and I think it’s really neat that even though we’re all supporting different things and we’re raising money for different things, it’s still raising money for our community.”
Even though nonprofits give all the time, some are taking a different approaching to Giving Tuesday. Take the Inside Out Foundation for example.
Employees took time out of their day to bring 20 crockpots full of chili to provide for Lubbock residents. While not exactly the tradition, co-founder Alexis Arnold says its all done for a good reason.
“Everything that we do, we feel like we need to give to get,” Arnold said. “If we’re giving service, if we’re giving love, then we feel like the rest will take care of itself.”
This money raised symbolizes more than just a monetary value. It showcases the power of giving to those who need it more and each non-profit knows this movement will go a long way in helping residents for years to come.
“It comes to mind the movie ‘It’s a Wonderful Life,” Warren said. “At the end he’s joyous, he’s excited to see a tree, right,” he said. “To me, that’s what Giving Tuesday is all about; it’s removing yourself from the equation and paying it forward to someone else that might not have it as good as you.”
Copyright 2025 KCBD. All rights reserved.