#GivingTuesday - Why You Should Give to Lexington Sister Cities

You've heard of Black Friday - sales upon sales, lines out the door, maybe even a fight over an Xbox.

You've also heard of Cyber Monday - sitting at your computer scrolling through sites as you online shop your heart out.

But what about the other day of the year where you're asked to get out your wallet?

What if this day could make an even bigger impact on your year than that big screen TV you got for 75% off?  What if on this day the money you spent could influence and impact more lives, especially those of students and teachers?

What if, by getting out your wallet, you were part of the effort to promote peace throughout the world?

That day is called Giving Tuesday.

On the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, non-profit organizations all over the world will have their 24 hour campaign for donations.  This year, Lexington Sister Cities will be a part of Giving Tuesday, and our campaign is simple: providing opportunities for students and teachers to participate in our student exchange programs.

So - how does that help in the effort to promote peace throughout the world?

Our student exchange programs impact over 50 students in Lexington each year.  Not only are these students impacted, but their parents, siblings, relatives, friends, neighbors, and community members see the impact and benefit from the Sister Cities program.

2016 Student Exchange Groups

Think about it... one student from Lexington hosts their counterpart from one of our Sister Cities for 10 days in Lexington.  They stay in their home with their family, directly getting to know the parents and siblings, and most of the time, extended family of that American student.

Irish student Roisin and her American counterpart Kacie and siblings visit a National Park in Kentucky.

In addition, they will probably go out to eat a few times, meeting people at restaurants who are then exposed to the program.  Maybe one night they go to a concert in downtown Lexington and chat with friends of the student or friends of the parents.

Two exchange students at Thursday Night Live in Lexington. 

Perhaps they even play a game of pick-up football with the neighborhood kids.

Irish and American students playing a game of pick up American football in the street.

That's SO many people that can be influenced by one exchange student!

All the students and host families of the 2016 Lexington-Shinhidaka Student Exchange. 

Our world is SO big, but through our program, we can connect so many people and realize we are all part of one world.

Through our program, we create friendships between people in America and people in other countries all over the world; friendships that can last a lifetime across the ocean.

Former Sister Cities exchange students Barton & Gregoire, visiting each other in Deauville 6 years after they were counterparts on the exchange.  

Through our program, we can inspire people to pursue careers in international relations and diplomacy.

Through our program, we can help to take steps in striving for world peace.

Mayor Jim Gray and former vice mayor Linda Gorton present the Mayor of Shinhidaka with a Kentucky Colonel during the 25th Anniversary celebration of the Sister Cities relationship between Lexington and Shinhidaka.  

Money donated on Giving Tuesday to Lexington Sister Cities will go directly to our student scholarship funds, which allow students and teachers the opportunities to participate in our programs each year.  

In just over 1 week, you can help be a part of our goals and mission.  Here's how:

1. On Tuesday, November 29th at midnight, the donation window will open.
2. Visit the donation website here.
3. Starting at midnight on November 29th, a DONATE button will be live on this page.  Click DONATE to be redirected to Paypal.
4. You'll be guided step by step in making a donation of any amount to Lexington Sister Cities #GivingTuesday Campaign.
5. If you would prefer to donate by check, please include #GivingTuesday in the memo line and mail to:

Lexington Sister Cities

200 E. Main Street

Lexington, KY 40507

We can't thank our supporters enough for all your generosity to our organization.  We will continue to strive towards our goal of promoting peace - one individual, one community at a time!