Good Deeds Day is an annual celebration of good, calling everyone to come out together and give of themselves for the benefit of others. People can unite around good. Just imagine the impact! If every person does something to make a difference, and communities, organizations and corporations give of their time and skill to help others, lives will be improved, and our world will be a better one.
Good Deeds Day was initiated by Shari Arison, to bring hearts closer together and help create positive change in the world. People from all walks of life and any culture or age, have connected to the simple idea of Good Deeds Day, volunteering to spruce up neighborhoods, distribute food to the needy, help in homes for the elderly, clean beaches and parks, and do much, much more on this day that has become an international tradition of good.
Starting in Israel in 2007 with some 7,000 participants across the country, Good Deeds Day has since annually gained greater popularity, spreading beyond geographical boundaries to include hundreds of thousands of participants in 50 countries around the globe, including the US, UK, Germany, Denmark, France, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Finland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Portugal, Argentina, India and South Africa.
It is always overwhelming to see the outpour of goodwill on Good Deeds Day, where so many come out to give of themselves for the benefit of other people's lives, and for the good of the planet. Good Deeds Day is organized by Ruach Tova (NGO), under the auspices of The Ted Arison Family Foundation, widening the circles through partnerships with communities, corporations, organizations, and Jewish Federations.
MTV Global campaigned the Good Deeds Day 2012 for six weeks on its online and TV platforms, exposing the message to millions of viewers and encouraging them to share their deeds on a dedicated website. In 2013, ABC Network is showcasing Good Deeds Day, also in collaboration with volunteering organizations such as Jump Start, Habitat for Humanity NY City, and more, while hundreds of projects are taking place across the US and all over the world.
On the 7th Good Deeds Day held in Israel March 5, 2013, more than 370,000 Israelis joined Good Deeds Day to do a good deed for the benefit of others. This is an outstanding number in Israel. Internationally, Good Deeds Day takes place March 10, 2013.
In Israel, participation reached an all high with 191 local authorities including 81 Arab towns and villages, tens of academic institutions and 800 schools all over the country. Employees from 355 businesses and companies, 250 youth groups and thousands of soldiers, all took part in more than 5,200 projects organized especially for Good Deeds Day 2013. This year also saw the special launch of Good Deeds Day Also at Night, with writers and artists meeting in bars and cafes to discuss opportunities for activating people's goodness.
Israeli President Shimon Peres and Shari Arison launched Good Deeds Day 2013 in Israel, at Shalva (Israeli association for the mentally and physically challenged children) in Jerusalem.
International Good Deeds Day 2013 was held in more than 50 countries across the globe, and launched a day earlier with a grand kickoff event in Times Square, Manhattan.
Read Shari Arison's blog about Doing Good
Watch an interview of Shari Arison on Good Deeds Day 2012
Find out more about Ruach Tova
Go to the Good Deeds Day website, at www.good-deeds-day.org
Some moments from Good Deeds Day, worldwide:
