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#GIVINGTUESDAY: NOT JUST A ONE DAY EVENT

November 14, 2024

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As the holiday season draws near, a special day stands out: GivingTuesday, which takes place every year on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving. But it’s not just a single day of giving. It’s the culmination of a year-long campaign that starts long before the actual day. Since its inception in 2012, GivingTuesday has become one of the biggest fundraising days of the year for nonprofits in the U.S.. It serves as a reminder that every act of giving—big or small—can make a meaningful impact.

A massive protest with a sign that says 'Be the change you want to see in this world.'
Photo by Ariel Knox

What is GivingTuesday?

GivingTuesday is a global day of giving driven by the collective power of social media, collaboration, and YOU. By bringing together individuals and organizations worldwide, we can all strive to foster a culture of giving year-round, working toward a future where kindness and empathy are woven into the fabric of our lives. Whether it’s sharing a smile, helping a neighbor or stranger, supporting a cause we care about, or giving what we can to those in need, every act of generosity matters. And everyone has something meaningful to offer.

The definition and pronounciation of Radical Generosity against a blue background.
Courtesy of the GivingTuesday Website

The Power of Radical Generosity

The GivingTuesday movement embraces the concept of "radical generosity," a principle that highlights the transformative power of empathy, compassion, and solidarity. Imagine a world where recognizing our shared humanity fosters a true appreciation for what each individual can give, receive, and discover. GivingTuesday aims to foster that vision and create a world rooted in collective humanity—one in which generosity isn't simply a transaction but a meaningful exchange that uplifts, unites, and empowers.

Generosity has the unique ability to uplift individuals, forge connections, and bridge societal divides. Every act of giving, no matter how small, carries intrinsic value and creates a ripple effect of positive impact. This spirit of generosity is at the core of GivingTuesday's mission and informs every aspect of its strategies—one where acts of kindness help shape a more inclusive, compassionate world.

A group of young women holding signs that say 'Our planet, our future.'
Photo By: Kaboompics.com

Community Impact

Impact The foundation supports local charities through targeted grants focused on improving health, education, community services, and environmental conservation. By investing in these areas, GivingTuesday can impact lives and foster long-term community development.

The Santa Barbara community is filled with generous, compassionate residents who consistently seek ways to give back on GivingTuesday and throughout the year. Here are some impactful ways you can participate:

1. Make a Donation to a Local Nonprofit: Every donation, no matter the size, contributes to the good work of local organizations. Consider giving to a nonprofit whose mission aligns with your values, whether animal welfare, environmental conservation, or community health.

2. Volunteer Your Time: Many nonprofits need hands-on support as much as financial help. On GivingTuesday, you might volunteer at a food bank, participate in a park cleanup, or help at an animal shelter. Volunteering is a meaningful way to make an immediate impact.

3. Spread the Word: Share information about #GivingTuesday and your chosen charities on social media or within your social circle. By highlighting the importance of GivingTuesday, you can encourage friends and family to participate as well, creating a ripple effect of generosity.

4. Organize a Neighborhood Drive: Bring your community together for a GivingTuesday initiative by organizing a food, toy, or clothing drive. These drives can be an excellent way to support local families in need and foster a sense of unity within your neighborhood.

5. Support Local Businesses That Give Back: Many local businesses support GivingTuesday by donating a percentage of their sales to charity. By shopping at these businesses, you can give back simply by helping those who, in turn, support our community.

Check the GivingTuesday Generosity Toolbox for inspiring ideas on using generosity to strengthen the connections that bring us together.

A dog laying on a table at the veterinarian, with the gloved hand of a vet tech on its head.
Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko

Giving Back to Build a Stronger Santa Barbara

If you’re looking for impactful ways to give back this GivingTuesday, here are some exceptional local nonprofits to consider supporting: 

  • Santa Barbara Humane: One of the country’s oldest animal welfare organizations, Santa Barbara Humane provides low-cost veterinary care, pet adoptions, and humane dog training at its campuses in Santa Barbara and Santa Maria.
  • Architectural Foundation of Santa Barbara: This foundation offers educational programs in architecture, art, and design to enrich and enhance public spaces across Santa Barbara County. 
  • Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara: Dedicated to providing exceptional cancer treatment to all residents, regardless of financial means, this foundation plays a vital role in community health. 
  • Channel Islands Restoration: Channel Islands Restoration protects local ecosystems on the islands and along the adjacent mainland through native plant propagation and habitat restoration.
  • Foodbank of Santa Barbara County: This essential organization is dedicated to ending hunger and improving the health of our community through nutrition education and access to nutritious food. 
  • PARC Foundation: Since 1985, the Parks and Recreation Community Foundation has supported parks and youth programs in Santa Barbara, enhancing spaces and opportunities that foster community well-being.
  • Santa Barbara Beautiful: This nonprofit organization focuses on preserving and enhancing Santa Barbara’s natural beauty. It collaborates with government agencies and local groups to beautify and protect the city.

I invite you to be part of the GivingTuesday movement and join other compassionate individuals and successful local businesses that are making a meaningful impact right here in Santa Barbara. Every act counts, whether through donations, volunteering, or spreading the word. Let’s embrace the spirit of the season and make this GivingTuesday truly memorable, filled with acts of kindness that uplift and inspire others.

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    “It was an emotional experience selling our mother’s home in Montecito that we all loved so much but Cristal made the process easier on our whole family by guiding us through the transaction every step of the way. She knows the market so well and everything she recommended was on point including the asking price, painting, and staging the home, which looked beautiful and helped the buyer envision her new home. We sold it the first day it hit the market with an offer above asking! Cristal did an incredible job communicating with us and the buyer to ensure that the transaction would run smoothly. We highly recommend using Cristal, she was a pleasure to work with! ”

    - J & A

    “Cristal is a pleasure to work with! Her knowledge of the local real estate market coupled with her amazing listening skills resulted in her showing us an array of homes that were all excellent choices. Her low-pressure patient attitude made us feel extremely comfortable with the whole process. I cannot recommend her highly enough.”

    - M.F.

    “Cristal Clarke is #1 in her field - and you don't become #1 by luck. Cristal works harder, and longer, and with more charm and patience than any real estate agent I have ever worked with in the past; her calendar has no weekend, her days have no clocks, her only concern is selling your property as soon as possible and for the best price on the market. Am I a fan? You bet!”

    - P.B.

    “We have used Cristal now several times and cannot express how grateful we are for her expertise, dedication, and unwavering support throughout the entire home-buying process. Cristal is knowledgeable, patient and attentive. Her attention to detail is remarkable, and she consistently went above and beyond to provide us with all the information and resources we needed to make informed decisions. Cristal is a skillful negotiator and advocate. She can navigate complex negotiations with professionalism and grace and felt like a true partner to us in the home-buying process. Cristal has a genuine passion for real estate and a deep commitment to her clients' satisfaction. I cannot speak highly enough of Cristal and her exceptional service. She is a true expert in her field and her dedication to excellence, combined with unwavering support is the reason we choose to work with her for all our real estate buying needs.”

    - T.C.

    “Cristal is a top-notch realtor who sold my home before it ever went on the market. I had two competing offers that enabled me to get top dollar for my home. Not only is Cristal superb but her team is extraordinary. I cannot say enough about Cristal and her team. They are simply phenomenal, the consummate professionals, who took care of every possible detail, making the sale and transition period, smooth from our end. They are also lovely, caring people, who knew all the right professionals, to get the job done. Thank you, everyone!”

    - D.R.

    “I could list lots of cool adjectives to describe Cristal. All good by the way. But, that is not why I or anyone should hire Cristal. My reason for hiring her, which proved to be correct, is very simple. She got the job done. And, she does it time and time again and with zero issues. And, that is why she is one of the top agents in the country. End of subject. ”

    - M.A.

    “Working with Cristal was a complete pleasure. Cristal was extremely patient with us as we evaluated nearly 2 dozen homes over a span of 2 years. Her knowledge of the market is unmatched. Cristal provided us with exceptional counsel as we evaluated opportunities and negotiated pricing. The closing process was handled thoroughly and efficiently. We could not be happier with our purchase and even more happy to now call Cristal our friend.”

    - D.K.

    “Cristal Clarke has conducted numerous real estate transactions for me beginning 13 years ago with the purchase of a Lemon Ranch. She has handled both large and small purchases and sales with equal dedication. As a negotiator, you can’t find anyone better. Her transactions are always conducted in the most appropriate and professional manner. Cristal has considerable knowledge of the Santa Barbara market.”

    - S.N. Decker Ph.D.

    “Living in Europe, we were to say the least, unaccustomed to the nuances of Real Estate acquisition in California and Cristal steered us through the process with absolute professionalism and personal attention to detail at every turn. Her in-depth knowledge of the market place combined with enthusiasm and drive was the only reason we secured the property of our dreams and will be forever grateful. If you are looking for personal discrete and private representation of the highest quality we suggest you look no further than Cristal Clarke.”

    - Johan and Paula van den Berg

    “Cristal is very straightforward, cheerful, helpful, professional and trustworthy….we felt very lucky to work with her.”

    - John and Lacey Williams

    “After considering our many choices, we are grateful it was Cristal Clarke of Sotheby’s International who represented the sale of our Montecito cottage. We are familiar with Cristal’s reputation of hard work and dedication to clients, but it was her attention to detail that made our experience so positive. She offered suggestions for staging the property, worked in harmony with potential buyers and was even able to secure back up offers. The sale of our cottage was completed much sooner than we expected, due in great part to Cristal’s professional skills and support. We highly recommend Cristal as a first choice for anyone needing representation with real estate.”

    - Michael & Nancy Lee

    “Our experience in working with Cristal Clarke resulted in the successful and discrete acquisition of a property which was not yet on the open market. Her knowledge of the Montecito/Santa Barbara area and vast expertise blended with her passion for real estate and architecture, provided us with the very highest level of professionalism and personalized services. Cristal exhibited a rare combination of excellent communications, attention to detail, creativity and patience.”

    - Richard and Catherine Frinier

    “Cristal really breaks the mold. She knows every nook and cranny of this real estate market, understands value, and follows up on everything, all the time. She was incredibly patient with our two year quest to find the perfect house. Every house hunting trip from across the country was well planned, and our time was never wasted. On top of her professionalism and expertise, she is delightful to spend time with. We are thrilled with the home we purchased, and grateful to Cristal for so wisely advising us through this process, right through to the close and beyond.”

    - Laurie Siegel

    “We met Cristal first in the course of renting a winter home (for three years), then buying a house using her as our agent. She was amazingly good at listening to our wants and showing us homes that fit our needs. Her mastery of the paperwork was perfect. Most importantly, there was never a situation where we doubted her straightforwardness or integrity. If we do another real estate transaction in Montecito (which I doubt, we’re happy with what we purchased), without question we’d use Cristal again.”

    - Ken Saffir

    “Susan and I just want to thank you for your efforts in the sale of our home. You are really quite amazing. Your competence, persistence, optimism and humor made the entire process effortless. Every problem that arose, you somehow fixed; any obstacle, you overcame. We have bought and sold many homes. It has never been such a painless and enjoyable process!”

    - Michael & Susan Marquart

    “A little something about “our” realtor, Cristal Clarke. My wife and I came to Santa Barbara about fifteen years ago looking for a seasonal home from which to enjoy the weather and amenities of the central coast. Being in the real estate business myself I was familiar with agents and brokers so entered the market with open eyes. We “flipped” a few houses in the early years, dealing with various agents and finally ended up in Montecito. That’s when good fortune put us together with Cristal. To say we were impressed is to put it mildly. Cristal really knows the market. She is familiar with the area, its history and trends. When we have questions about a particular property she either has the answers immediately or gets back to us by phone or email. There is no waiting or wondering with Cristal. She is an agent who is “on top of it.” Her recommendations as to price points, contractors, inspectors and title agents have proven to be exceptional, showing great insight and the highest professional standards. We consider ourselves exceedingly fortunate to say that Cristal Clarke is our realtor and would recommend her services to any serious buyer or seller.”

    - Rob & Judi Kelch