Giving Thanks and Giving Tuesday

November 18, 2021

Hi TADA! Friends and Family,

Time is going by so quickly. I can’t believe the holiday season is here. A time for gratitude and generosity. A time for miracles and new dreams. 

Many Americans celebrate Thanksgiving by getting together with family and friends who feel like family and have a big feast. But for some Americans, the native people of this land, it is a day of mourning, of remembrance of racism and oppression that Indigenous People still experience today. Giving thanks is a longstanding and central tradition among Native groups and is practiced today. 

A few nights later, some Americans will celebrate the beginning of Hannukah and get together with family and friends who feel like family and have a different big feast. Hanukkah, which means dedication in Hebrew, is the Jewish Festival of Lights which lasts for eight days and nights. Hanukkah represents joy and celebrates the Jewish people’s victory over an emperor who tried to destroy their identity and culture; the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem, and how a small quantity of oil for the Temple’s menorah miraculously lasted eight days. We give thanks for this victory and miracle. 

Did you know that President Roosevelt moved Thanksgiving to the third Thursday of November to extend the Christmas shopping season in order to help businesses still suffering from the lingering effects of the Great Depression? It always comes down to money, doesn’t it? (And so, does this note.)

I’m thankful for many people in my life – my original family, my step family, my TADA! family, and my friends who feel like family to me. I thank you all for being a part of my life. I am very thankful for all of you and for TADA!.

If you are thankful for TADA! I ask that you help this “business of show” that is still feeling the lasting effects of COVID-19 by making a contribution on Giving Tuesday through Facebook at 8am on Tuesday, November 30th. Facebook is once again matching gifts on this day starting at 8am EST sharp – and usually the matching funds are spent within seconds. However, this year they are doing things a little differently so that hopefully more organizations will benefit from the match. They are matching 8 million dollars. For the first $2 million, they will match 100% of the donation made. So, making donations at 8am can mean a great deal to TADA!. For the remaining $6M, they’ll match 10% of each donation. Donations of up to $100,000 in total donations will be matched per nonprofit and $20,000 per donor. TADA! also has an anonymous donor who will match all gifts given through the end of December. So, it’s possible that if you give on November 30th through Facebook – your gift could be double matched! That would be such an incredible gift to TADA!. 

If you are sharing any meals with family or friends that feel like family, tell them about the TADA! Family and how their generosity can really make a difference this year. 

I hope this holiday season brings you much joy, gratitude, and a miracle.  

Best,

Janine Nina Trevens
Executive & Producing Artistic Director