Even after the holidays are over, it’s important to be thankful, and Tuesday, November 29 will be a day of gratitude for United Way of Anderson County and the community. First, UWAC is hosting the 7th Annual Starfish Award Luncheon, which celebrates the successes of the many nonprofits in the area and honors one exceptional volunteer from Anderson County. This event was inspired by a short parable, in which a young boy and his community save thousands of stranded starfish, proving that tremendous good can be accomplished one starfish (or person) at a time. For many nonprofits, the challenges and need of the community can feel insurmountable and their impact negligible, but the Starfish Awards are an opportunity to celebrate the many successes and measurable impact they have. The ceremony is also an opportunity to publicly recognize an individual who has gone above and beyond to serve this community for years, improving hundreds of lives through compassion, perseverance, and dedication to Anderson County. If you want to find out who will receive this year’s award, or you just want to celebrate our amazing community, call United Way at (865) 483-8431 to reserve your seat. The luncheon starts at 11:30 at the DoubleTree Inn, and general admission is $25.
November 29 also marks the annual Giving Tuesday, a national movement designed to mobilize the giving power of communities across the country. For the first time, nine Anderson County nonprofits are teaming up to launch Secret City Giving in an effort to maximize the power of individual donations and make it easier for residents to give back to the community as a whole. The nine organizations include CASA of the Tennessee Heartland, Free Medical Clinic, TORCH, ADFAC, and more. These agencies came together with the goal to make November 29 the greatest day of giving in the Southeast. With the click of a button, you can donate to all ten organizations, or you can designate to the organization that you feel most passionately about. Either way, any donation through the Secret City Gives page will go straight back to your community and to the issues that you feel are the most important. Visit uwayac.org/secretcitygives/ to learn about all the organizations participating or to make a donation on Giving Tuesday. Remember to use the hashtag #SecretCityGives and share with us why you gave. With your help, we’ll all be able to extend a hand to those in need.