Funding a Guiding Light for When Times Get Dark
Small Actions Create Big Impact
Last week, we gave thanks for the blessings we have in our lives, and now on Giving Tuesday we have the opportunity to make our community stronger.
Giving Tuesday is a global movement that reimagines a world built upon shared humanity and radical generosity. It began in 2012 as a simple idea: a day encouraging people to do good. Today, the nonprofit inspires “radical generosity” across the globe with hundreds of millions of people giving, collaborating, and celebrating generosity on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving.
In 2020 alone, Giving Tuesday’s Data Commons estimated a participation rate of 34.8 million people, a 29% increase from 2019 despite the COVID-19 pandemic with total giving increasing 25% from $1.97 billion to $2.47 billion in just one year.
My wife, Pam, and I share Giving Tuesday’s core mission to incorporate generosity in everyday life. We’ve always made philanthropy a cornerstone of our lives because we define being successful as using our talents and our abilities to serve others.
Join Us In Helping Our Tri-County Neighborhoods This Giving Tuesday
This Giving Tuesday, we’re challenging our community to raise $50,000 in support of Trident United Way’s 211 Helpline and we will match the donations, dollar for dollar.
For more than 75 years, Trident United Way has been a catalyst for measurable community transformation. Standing for people and progress, their efforts unite expertise, resources, and passion to create actionable change around education, financial stability and health.
The Trident United Way 211 Helpline is the most comprehensive source of information about local resources for health and human services. When someone in need calls, a 211 guide helps connect them to resources for food, healthcare services, mental health, and other needs. This service is provided free of charge 24/7, 365 days a year, in 180 languages, all while being 100% confidential. Further, the 211 network is a resource available across the U.S. and Canada, and made over 27.8 million connections to critical services and help last year.
By joining us in support of Trident United Way, your gift ensures caring, expert navigators can answer calls at any time of day or night, 365 days per year. We are also campaigning to ensure the database is up to date so referrals and connections for life-improving services are received and completed.
Donate from Tuesday, November 30th to Thursday, December 2nd and we’ll match it, dollar for dollar up to $50,000 [tuw.org/Wilsons211GiftChallenge]
Ways to Get Involved
I’ve supported the local United Way in every community in which I have lived dating back to the ’80s and Trident United Way since 2015. I have continued to work with them over the years because I have seen how their work makes a difference in the community. I’ve served on their board of directors, ran four consecutive $1M+ corporate gift campaigns, secured their first-ever corporate sponsorship for their Annual Day of Caring with over 100 employees participating in service projects, and continue to spread the word on the important work they are doing.
While we hope you will join our call to donate today, there is no wrong way to get involved. To learn more ways to get involved, head to https://www.tuw.org/.
To learn more about our philanthropy work and the D. Michael Wilson and Pam Wilson Fund, visit our website.
About the Author
D. Michael Wilson serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Prince International and as a director of ASP Prince Holdings, LLC. Prince is a leading global supplier of specialty minerals that bring color, energy and enhanced functionality to everyday products. From 2015 to 2020 Michael served as the President, CEO and as a director of the specialty chemicals company Ingevity. He has deep specialty chemical and minerals experience having also served in executive roles at Albemarle Corporation and FMC as well as the board of Vulcan Materials. He has also served on the boards of the American Chemistry Council, the National Association of Manufacturers, and the Philadelphia and Greater Charleston Metro Chambers of Commerce. Michael has also served on the board of a number of philanthropic organizations including The United Way of Greater Charleston, Philabundance, and the Philadelphia Art Museum Corporate Executive Board. He currently serves on the board of the Lowcountry Food Bank and is a member of the Governance Committee. In 2020 he established the D. Michael Wilson Foundation to benefit the Lowcountry Food Bank, the South Carolina Aquarium, and Reading Partners South Carolina, among other causes. The fund also provides support to the Plastic Free Waters initiative at the SC Aquarium. He has a BS in Chemistry and an MBA from UNC-Chapel Hill. Wilson has been recognized for corporate leadership in the Charleston Business Magazine. You can learn more about Michael’s interests and activities at www.dmichaelwilson.com.
