Giving Tuesday 2017

On Tuesday, November 28th, 2017 the Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace & Justice (RCF) will participate in #GivingTuesday. All funds raised on this day will go towards RCF Educational Scholarships, a collection of scholarship programs and educational funding that emphasize education for justice and peace as a basic skill that must be universally nurtured.

What is #GivingTuesday?

#GivingTuesday is more than just a Tuesday. It is a movement created with the vision that on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving (U.S.), there would be an online, global day dedicated to giving back to kick-off the holiday and end-of-year giving seasons.

On Tuesday, November 28, 2017, charities, families, businesses, community centers, and students around the world will come together for one common purpose: to celebrate generosity and to give.

How will RCF participate in #GivingTuesday?

The Rachel Corrie Foundation (RCF) will once again participate in #GivingTuesday online. All donations to RCF on the November 28th #GivingTuesday will help support our Educational Scholarships, a fundamental cornerstone of our work. RCF Educational Scholarships include the Rachel Corrie Memorial Scholarship, Birzeit University Women's Scholarship Program, and funding support for young activists, individuals, and school groups seeking to develop and implement educational programming, attend a conference, or to support further educational efforts relevant to the RCF Mission and Guiding Principles.

Why did RCF choose Educational Scholarships as the recipient of #GivingTuesday donations?

RCF chose Educational Scholarships as the recipient for #GivingTuesday donations because we believe that education for justice and peace is a basic skill that must be universally nurtured. We also believe that education must be supported on a local to global scale.

LOCAL

Rachel Corrie Memorial Scholarship: This local scholarship at The Evergreen State College (Rachel Corrie's alma mater) in Olympia, WA was established in 2006. For over a decade, selected students interested in peace, justice and conflict resolution studies; international relations; Arab culture and Arabic language; and US policy in the Middle East have received RCF funding for their educational pursuits. Many recipients of the scholarship have continued on to become active volunteers for RCF, progressed to related Master's and PhD programs, and taken on leadership roles in the fight for Palestinian rights. RCF is currently awarding $3,000 annually for this scholarship-enough to cover at least one full quarter of tuition.

NATIONAL

Funding Support for Students & Young Activists: RCF financially supports students and young activists across the United States in an effort to build stronger coalitions and networks of young individuals committed to peace and justice. RCF has supported student attendance from Western Washington University and The Evergreen State College at the Students for Justice in Palestine national conferences, provided staff-led BDS workshops and educational programming at colleges in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Washington, among others. Additionally, RCF has supported student groups in small and large grassroots organizing and advocacy campaigns at numerous colleges and universities. Supporting this work reinforces education for peace and justice as a basic skill, and emphasizes the importance and impact of grassroots organizing.

GLOBAL

Birzeit University Women's Scholarship Program: For the past three years, RCF has fully funded the tuition, transportation, and supplies for an outstanding female student at Birzeit University in the West Bank, Palestine. This scholarship program is a tangible means of supporting female Palestinian students and building a global network of young individuals educated for peace and justice. The scholarship program aims to fully cover student expenses for an academic year, approximately $4,000.

Help support #GivingTuesday and the Rachel Corrie Foundation by giving back and giving hope this November 28, 2017.

This sounds great, but what if I miss out on #GivingTuesday and still want to help?

We hoped you would ask! There are SO MANY WAYS to support RCF and the people of Palestine.

Here are just a few:

• We are always accepting donations, either on our Network for Good Donation page, or at our office (203 East 4th Ave, Suite 402, Olympia, WA 98501). You can designate your donation for specific projects or contribute to our general fund that supports operational and program costs. We accept cash, check, money order, and credit card donations!

• Join us at the 5th Annual RCF Human Rights Day Celebration & Fundraiser on Sunday, December 10th, 2017 for an evening of food, drinks, music, and a discussion of Human Rights issues by a member of our peace community. Our Giving Tree will have ornaments for purchase that help support RCF programming, including the aforementioned programs, as well as our General Fund that helps keep our doors open and the lights on!

PURCHASE YOUR HUMAN RIGHTS DAY TICKETS HERE

• SHOP LOCAL! Support RCF by purchasing one of our many high-quality and unique items created by independent artisans, artists, and writers from the South Sound all the way to Palestine.

Products sold by RCF include beautiful handmade Palestinian embroidery, delicious Canaan Fair Trade food items, and of course, a wide range of books that support the overall Mission & Guiding Principles of RCF. Proceeds from product sales go directly to funding our many projects and supporting the overall sustainability of the organization. To purchase products from RCF, stop by our office or give us a call.