It’s Giving Tuesday and the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation is participating! Giving Tuesday is a global giving movement that was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Over the past nine years, this idea has inspired hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.

Last year, organizations raised over $511 million online in the United States on Giving Tuesday. And with Giving Tuesday Now in May of this year, which was an emergency response to the need caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, saw participation in 145 countries and $503 million raised in the United States alone.

The Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation knows that many organizations will ask for your support today, and we hope that you will also keep us in mind. The Free Library is one of the most important educational and cultural institutions in Philadelphia. While the City of Philadelphia provides public funds for the operations of the Free Library, it is through the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation and the generosity of private funding from individuals, foundations, and corporations that the Free Library is able to offer many incredible programs and activities that advance literacy, guide learning, inspire curiosity throughout the region, and help deliver on the promise of an equitable future for all of Philadelphia’s children, families, and communities.

Demand for Free Library digital offerings has increased dramatically over the past several months. Thousands of Philadelphians, especially children and vulnerable communities, are counting on the Free Library of Philadelphia’s ebooks, audiobooks, and many digital resources to support their growth and learning—especially right now. Audiobooks and ebooks allow for increased accessibility, but adding digital books and online resources to our collections is expensive—the average cost for a new ebook or audiobook is $50. A gift of $50 today can help ensure that at least one more ebook or audiobook is made available to library patrons this year.

Thank you for loving the Free Library—we hope that you’ll join us on this #GivingTuesday and support your neighbors and community. If you are able, please consider making a tax-deductible gift to the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation today. And please tell your friends and family about #GivingTuesday—share the message with everyone you know!

The Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that develops funding to expand, enhance, and support the services, collections, building improvements, and technology expansion of the Free Library of Philadelphia.