Together with our global community of ocean enthusiasts and dive leaders, we are responding to the unprecedented COVID-19 outbreak by taking fins off actions that keep people, passionate about ocean conservation, connected during this crisis. Above and beneath the waves, or from our homes, we are standing together for a healthy ocean planet. 

As a powerful global community, we know we can shift our passion, energy, and creativity to new ways of mobilizing the world to act for a clean and healthy ocean.

#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 the 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. 

We know we have amazing leaders in our global community. Some are 100% AWARE partners, others are Adopt a Dive Site™ ambassadors. For as long as we can, the Project AWARE team will remain available to provide support and innovative ways to continue to engage and stay connected through online opportunities to learn and take action for a return to a clean and healthy ocean. 

We understand your priorities will change during this difficult time. Like us, you are probably focusing more on your family, friends and neighbors. It may feel irrelevant to think about ocean health but we must remember that our health and wellbeing are closely interconnected with ocean health now and in the future. 

Priorities are shifting but we can’t ignore the ocean’s decline, the delays in global action to make our ocean healthy by 2030 and the risks associated with the plastic industry exploiting anxiety about COVID-19 to try to block laws prohibiting single-use plastic,

says Danna Moore, Project AWARE Global Operations Director.

The fight to protect our ocean planet must go on.

This #GivingTuesdayNow, people can show their generosity in a variety of ways, 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.

In times of isolation and anxiety, remember that we are Connection - We are connected and we connect people to the ocean online and offline because the ocean connects us all. We are united by our shared passion for the ocean. 

Join Project AWARE’s #GivingTuesdayNow efforts:

• Donate to support the Project AWARE team, community and ocean conservation work

• Download free tools and resources to conduct ocean-focused online courses and webinars

For more details about the GivingTuesday movement, visit the GivingTuesday website (www.givingtuesday.org), Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/GivingTuesday) or follow @GivingTuesday and #GivingTuesdayNow on Twitter. For youth interested in joining the movement, visit GivingTuesdayKids.org for inspiration and project ideas. 

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. 

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Photo by 翔音 on Unsplash