For many, the holiday season is a time of activity and abundance – from attending festive events and making plans with loved ones to gathering around delectable, local cuisine. The underlying impulse behind these darker days is to connect and share with others.

It’s no wonder then, that it’s also become the time of year most aligned with charitable giving. People want to be generous, and historically, calendar year-end had important tax implications.

While tax law changes have influenced how some people give, the reasons why we give are as strong as ever. At Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley, we invite you to also consider where and when you give. There is no time like the here and now to make a gift that will improve lives.

If you’re already shopping locally, consider taking the next step to give locally. Whether you’re passionate about conservation, preservation, education, feeding, housing, protecting animals or supporting faith, local agencies are working to fulfill your mission. Keeping the community in our thoughts and actions is always a timely and rewarding pursuit.

As a noun, ‘community’ is defined as 1. the people of a district or country considered collectively, especially in the context of social values and responsibilities; 2. a feeling of fellowship with others, as result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals. In light of the season, perhaps we might engage our feelings of fellowship to embrace our shared responsibility of caring for one another.

When you give to a Hudson Valley nonprofit you contribute to the well-being of your neighbors and the quality of life for all. Regional nonprofits may not have the national or international visibility of other groups, but the tangible impacts of their work are visible all around us. Giving local means that rather than being one of many – your gift will benefit many here at home.

If you’re looking to start a new family tradition or take your localism to the next level, the Community Foundations can help you achieve your charitable goals. For 50 years we have worked with caring and generous individuals of all means to make a difference. Drawing on decades of experience and collaboration with the service organizations of our region, we are a trusted resource to thousands of people moved by what matters most. We can also partner with you to consider tax-smart strategies that respond to today’s needs and invest in tomorrow’s potential. You can learn more by visiting our website, CommunityFoundationsHV.org.
However you celebrate the season, we encourage you to keep close to what matters – home, hearth and the community that sustains us all year round. As author W.J. Cameron once said, “Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action.”


View the original publication here: Organic Hudson Valley