CAA Joins #GivingTuesdayNow in Global Day of Giving

The Cultural Arts Alliance (CAA)  is responding to meet the needs of Walton County, FL artists impacted by COVID-19 by launching a matching campaign for its Emergency Relief Fund for Artists. 

#GivingTuesdayNow is a global day of giving and unity, set to take place on Tuesday, 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. 

The Emergency Relief Fund for Artists (ERFA) was recently established to address the immediate economic needs of local professional artists who have experienced loss of income due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Applications are accepted weekly through the CAA’s website, and grant awards will be available within one week of approval.

A fundraising campaign has also been launched to ensure that funds remain available as long as necessary. Walton County residents and CAA Members Shawn and Richard Tomasello have already pledged a matching donation of $100,000 for the fund and challenge other individuals, businesses, and foundations to quickly donate to the fund in order to meet the needs of artists who have experienced significant loss of income.

“Since launching the emergency fund on April 5th, the CAA has already awarded $31,800 to local artists in need and more artists are applying weekly,” said CAA Executive Director Jennifer Steele. “These funds are helping our beloved artists with basic expenses like food, rent, and supplies, and I encourage everyone who is able to please donate during the month of May while we have this opportunity for your contribution to be maximized.”

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 the CAA’s #GivingTuesdayNow efforts can visit CulturalArtsAlliance.com/Donate. The CAA is eligible to receive matching funds through a collaborative effort of Nonprofit Hub, Do More Good and Firespring for contributions submitted throughout the month of May. All donations, less any processing fees, will go directly to local artists. 

Those interested in applying to the ERFA can visit CulturalArtsAlliance.com/Artist-Resources to review the grant guidelines and complete the online application. 

ERFA grants are available to individual professional working artists of all disciplines who live or work in Walton County, FL and have lost income because of the cancellation of a specific, scheduled gig or opportunity or a temporarily or permanently closed business due to COVID-19 precautionary measures. Artists can request up to $1,000 during the first grant period to compensate for income that was lost between February 28 and May 29, 2020.

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.