Press Release: ISS-USA Responds to Urgent COVID19 Need, Joining #GivingTuesdayNow in Global Day of Giving and Unity
Contact:
Marie Blum, Senior Development and Communications Officer
International Social Service, USA
443-451-1227
International Social Service, USA (ISS-USA) Responds to Urgent COVID19 Need, Joining #GivingTuesdayNow in Global Day of Giving and Unity
Baltimore, MD – International Social Service, USA (ISS-USA) is responding to meet the needs of vulnerable and separated families by connecting them through technology and continuing our international and interstate casework through virtual means.
#GivingTuesdayNow is a global day of giving and unity, set to take place on May 5, 2020 as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19. The day is designed to drive an influx of generosity, citizen engagement, business and philanthropy activation, and support for communities and nonprofits around the world.
At a time when we are all experiencing the pandemic, generosity is what brings people of all races, faiths, and political views together across the globe. Generosity gives everyone power to make a positive change in the lives of others and is a fundamental value anyone can act on. It’s a day for everyone around the world to stand together and give back in all ways, no matter who or where we are.
ISS-USA is taking part in #GivingTuesdayNow as we continue our interstate and cross border work to connect vulnerable families and provide them with vital social services, despite closed borders and shelter-in-place restrictions. We are currently able to use remote technology to prepare families for reunification when travel is safe again, assist thousands of U.S. citizens who are stranded overseas with their return home, and mobilize our network in over 120 countries to keep people connected to their loved ones as they experience prolonged separations. Our #GivingTuesdayNow goal is to raise $2,500 so we can continue this work throughout the pandemic.
“There are families all over the World waiting for ISS-USA to provide essential social services and reunite them,” says Julie Rosicky, Executive Director of ISS-USA. “Through creativity and adaptation, we are making this work possible, but we need additional funding to keep serving families.”
People can show their generosity in a variety of ways during #GivingTuesdayNow, whether it’s helping a neighbor, advocating for an issue, sharing a skill, or giving to causes, every act of generosity counts. The global movement will emphasize opportunities to give back to communities and causes in safe ways that allow for social connection even while practicing physical distancing.
“As a global community, we can mourn this moment of extreme crisis while also finding the opportunity to support one another. We each have the power to make an impact with acts of generosity, no matter how small, and to ensure the sustainability of organizations and services that are crucial to the care and support of our communities,” said Asha Curran, CEO of GivingTuesday. “#GivingTuesdayNow is a chance for us to stand united and use grassroots generosity to show that we are all in this together, beginning to end. Even as many face financial uncertainty, generosity is not about size. From calling an elderly neighbor to chat to offering translation help; from showing gratitude to our healthcare workers to donating to your local food bank, every act of kindness is a beacon of hope in this crisis. We all have something to give, and every act of human consideration and kindness matters.”
Those interested in joining ISS-USA’s #GivingTuesdayNow efforts can visit www.iss-usa.org for more information about the organization.
For more details about the GivingTuesday movement, visit the GivingTuesday website, Facebook page, or follow @GivingTuesday and #GivingTuesdayNow on Twitter. For youth interested in joining the movement, visit GivingTuesdayKids.org for inspiration and project ideas.
About ISS-USA:
Founded in 1926, ISS-USA is a member of a global network of social work agencies and providers in more than 120 countries. ISS-USA works with more than 1,000 families each year to locate family members, discover important documents, visit homes, and assess communities for information that helps reunite families and provide long-term permanency arrangements in the best interest of children. For more information, please visit www.iss-usa.org.
About GivingTuesday:
GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world. GivingTuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Over the past eight years, it has grown into a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity. Whether it’s making someone smile, helping a neighbor or stranger out, showing up for an issue or people we care about, or giving some of what we have to those who need our help, every act of generosity counts and everyone has something to give. GivingTuesday strives to build a world in which the catalytic power of generosity is at the heart of the society we build together, unlocking dignity, opportunity and equity around the globe.
###
#GivingTuesdayNow is organized by GivingTuesday, in partnership with its global network of leaders, partners, communities and generous individuals. GivingTuesday is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world.
