Kimmel Center to Celebrate #GivingTuesday with Cradles to Crayons Children's Winter Gear Drive, 12/3-10

On #GivingTuesday - the Tuesday after Thanksgiving - people across the United States and around the world will join online and in person to kick off the holiday season with a day dedicated to giving back. Individuals will launch their volunteer projects, make online donations and gather at dozens of events to celebrate the start of the holiday giving season and give back to the causes they care about most.

Local #GivingTuesday gatherings and activations take on a variety of forms, including parties designed to help those in need, summits exploring and encouraging philanthropic activity, clothing and food drives, volunteer opportunities and more. These activities are organized by many partners of #GivingTuesday, a movement of organizations, companies, and people dedicated to a collective celebration of giving that increases philanthropy and volunteering throughout the holiday season.

#GivingTuesday, now in its second year, falls on December 3, 2013. The number of organizations and companies that have signed on as partners has more than doubled from the first year, and now stands at 6,225 and growing, in all 50 U.S. states and 15 countries.

#GivingTuesday Events will be Hosted Online and Offline to Create Maximum Impact

Local activities in communities across the United States include the following:

KimMel Center for the Performing Arts: -Philadelphia - This #GivingTuesday, the KimMel Center for the Performing Arts' campus is hosting a "winter gear" drive to benefit Cradles to Crayons. Cradles to Crayons is an organization that provides children from birth to age 12, living in low- income and homeless situations, with the essential items they need to thrive. Cradles to Crayons has a shortage of warm winter gear, so our collection drive is needed and well timed. The KimMel Center is the only organization participating with Cradles to Crayons for #GivingTuesday and we are proud to work collaboratively with: Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, Opera Philadelphia, The Philly Pops, Pennsylvania Ballet, PHILADANCO, Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, and the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Where to donate:

· Marked bins will be located in Commonwealth Plaza and accessible 10am -- 6pm, daily and later on performance evenings.

· Marked bins will be located in the Merriam Theater and Academy of Music when the buildings are open for performances.

Accepted Items:

· Winter coats, sizes newborn - 14/16 (youth)

· Hats, gloves, scarves

For a complete list of local communities participating in #GivingTuesday, click here.

For more information about the KimMel Center's partnership with Cradles to Crayons, click here.