As Director of the AE Alliance, I first learned about autoimmune encephalitis and the Alliance three years ago and it was not until three months ago I began learning about GivingTuesday. Both organizations are doing good. Here’s a bit more detail about their histories, how they are doing good and how you can do good too.
GivingTuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good.
GivingTuesday was born and incubated at the 92nd Street Y and its Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact in New York City. GivingTuesday is now an independent nonprofit and a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity. The GivingTuesday website states:
It’s a simple idea: whether it’s making someone smile, helping a neighbor or stranger out, showing up for an issue or people we care about, or giving some of what we have to those who need our help, every act of generosity counts and everyone has something to contribute toward building the better world we all want to live in.
The AE Alliance was also created in 2012 and began with a simple idea: no one faces autoimmune encephalitis alone. The mission of the AE Alliance is:
Strive to educate physicians in evidence-based best practices for the diagnosis and treatment of AE. Successful patient care requires a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach.
Endeavor to establish a supportive community of patients, families and caregivers, so that no one faces autoimmune encephalitis alone.
Work to facilitate scientific research into the causes of AE and its treatment, with confidence that a cure will be found.
Since 2012, GivingTuesday has grown into a global generosity movement that inspires millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity. It has led to billions of dollars in donations in the US and countless acts of generosity, kindness and civic participation around the world. GivingTuesday social media activity takes place in every country and territory around the world.
Since 2012, the AE Alliance has continued to remain focused on its mission. The Alliance is located in the US and our reach is global with the families we support, physicians in the Clinicians Network, members of our Medical Advisory Board and researchers funded through the AEA Community Seed Grant program. The graphic illustrates our impact since 2021.
If you refer back to the quote from the GivingTuesday website at the top of this post, “It’s a simple idea.” Making someone smile, showing up, giving some of what we have to someone who needs help … It all counts and everyone has something to contribute toward building the better world we all want to live in.
Our goal this November and December is to spread awareness about GivingTuesday and the AE Alliance and to encourage everyone to “Do Good!” Discover your generosity language.
At the Alliance, we are giving everyone the opportunity to do good and Develop an Attitude of Gratitude during December. Our month of mindfulness program is a follow up to our 2022 AEA Family Day. Mindfulness programs are often compared to bicep curls for the brain. You are invited to join us for a month of mindfulness. Give your brain a workout this December. Learn more and join us as together we Develop an Attitude of Gratitude. Everyone is invited!
Learn more about GivingTuesday, how they are doing good and how you can help.
Learn more about the AE Alliance and how we are doing good. Look below for simple ways to support the Alliance this GivingTuesday. #GivingTuesdAEAlliance