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# Los Angeles at its Best: ‘Paying it Forward’ with #GivingTuesday
November 28 2016
Written by Denyse Selesnick.
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MY TURN-In this Rollercoaster world where we live, and each day brings a new revelation, it seems like an oxymoron to celebrate Thanksgiving let alone Tuesday, November 29 as the **"International Day of Giving."** But life goes on!
Many Los Angeles organizations prepared Thanksgiving Dinner for those less fortunate. Some were sponsored, like the Midnight Mission servicing the Downtown location. One that particularly intrigued me was the annual *Westside Community Dinner*.
They have over three decades of tradition serving the community a wonderful, free sit-down Thanksgiving dinner. They also provide free haircuts, blankets, clothing, hygiene kits, medical, optical, dental services, vaccination, a resource fair and a children's carnival.
The Celebration was open to everyone -- no reservations necessary. They fed over 3000 people, both visitors and volunteers. Five hundred turkeys were cooked! It was an eclectic collection of groups and individuals -- students, singles, low-income families, seniors and homeless -- brought together to celebrate Thanksgiving. No one asked who they supported for President and although there may have been political discussions, nothing got out of hand.
Each year the dinner has received more support. It was held on the grounds of the Westside Veterans Center, whose service personnel gave the attending Veterans information and referrals. The Mayor’s office also provided personnel to pass out information on services provided by the City.
No videos or press are allowed and no one organization blows its own horn. Publicity for the dinner was handled by all of the Westside organizations and businesses. Everything was donated, mostly products and food, with some cash donations to purchase needed items. It truly is a community affair.
Los Angeles Neighborhood Council Coalition (LANCC) President Terrence Gomes has been volunteering at this event since he was a young student. He remarked that one of his teachers turned him on to the importance of volunteering. "Chief Chef and civic activist Jay Handel was pleased that so many chefs from throughout the City donated their time and talent to help cook.
This is the America I know and love. I have no desire to secede from the United States. Those who are talking about the West Coast doing a "Westexit" are frankly not to be taken seriously.
It is comforting to be able to write about Americans doing good things together for causes they believe in.
Aside from Black Friday and Cyber Monday having strong sales, we will also be celebrating on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving (in the U.S.) **International Day of Giving**. *\#GivingTuesday* kicks off the charitable season when many focus on their holiday and end-of-year giving. Since its inaugural year in 2012, *\#GivingTuesday* has become a movement that celebrates and supports giving and philanthropy with events throughout the year and a growing catalog of resources.
*\#GivingTuesday* was founded by New York’s 92nd Street Y, in partnership with the United Nations Foundation. Together, with a team of influencers and founding partners, they launched a global movement that has engaged over 30,000 organizations worldwide.
It was created by the team at the recently renamed Belfer Center for Innovation and Social Impact at the **92 Y** -- a cultural center in New York City since 1894 that has brought people together around the values of service and giving back. #*GivingTuesda*y connects diverse groups of individuals, communities and organizations around the world for one common purpose: to celebrate and encourage giving. A team of influencers and founding partners joined forces, collaborating across sectors, offering expertise and working tirelessly to launch *\#GivingTuesday* and have continued to shape, grow and strengthen the movement.
**92Y** is a world-class cultural and community center where people from all over the world connect through culture, arts, entertainment and conversation. For over 140 years, it has harnessed the power of arts and ideas to enrich, enlighten and change lives, and the power of community to repair the world.
As a proudly Jewish organization, **92Y** enthusiastically welcomes and reaches out to people of all ages, races, faiths and backgrounds while embracing Jewish values like learning and self-improvement, the importance of family, the joy of life, and giving back to our wonderfully diverse and growing community, both locally and around the world.
These "giving" examples are from both coasts but I know, without a doubt, that similar types of activities are taking place in every other State. This is what makes me optimistic that as Americans we will do the right thing. There will always be people who need to feel superior; there will always be those who have the victim mentality and need someone to blame for their mistakes; there will always be people who think their God is the only one and their beliefs are the only true dictates of human behavior. Fortunately, they are a small minority!
Do we have problems in this country? Certainly! Can we solve them? Of course! The very characteristic that fringe elements want to eradicate is what makes us great: our diversity, productivity and creativity. Each of us brings something to the table.
Not everyone can donate money to a favorite cause, but each one of us can give something of ourselves to make the world a better place. So maybe **"pay it forward**" is a good idea for this Tuesday. As always, comments are welcome.
(*Denyse Selesnick is a* CityWatch *columnist. She is a former publisher/journalist/international event organizer. Denyse can be reached at:* [***Denyse@CityWatchLA.com***](mailto:Denyse@CityWatchLA.com)*) Edited for CityWatch by Linda Abrams.*
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