Good Deeds Day, the flagship project of Ruach Tova of the Arison Group, will mark its twentieth anniversary this year and will be held on March 10 in Israel and April 12 worldwide. In the framework of this peak event of doing good, millions of people in 115 countries around the world are expected to participate in thousands of community projects and volunteering opportunities, putting into practice the day’s central motto, “United in Good.”
This initiative, which began in 2007 with 7,000 participants and 120 projects, has since grown into a mega-scale social movement that now includes more than 95% of Israel’s local authorities, hundreds of businesses, thousands of nonprofits and other organizations, and millions of people from all sectors and every community.
This year as well, Israel’s Arab sector will celebrate Good Deeds Day across all its local authorities, in conjunction with the month of Ramadan, with numerous activities of good and volunteering opportunities planned for the day.
Shari Arison, who initiated Good Deeds Day twenty years ago, said, “Good Deeds Day, the annual peak event of year-round activities of doing good, has grown into a twenty-year tradition. This day serves as an example that shows us how our world can always be – every day of the year.”
In honor of the 20th Good Deeds Day, “Good Deeds Trails” will be established across Israel in collaboration with local authorities. The trails, which will be created by volunteers, will highlight the social-community work in each authority and offer visitors an interactive experience of doing good. Each trail will include landmarks that tell the story of the work done in that region – from nonprofits and social entrepreneurs to organizations working for the community. The trails will serve to attract community members throughout the year, raise social awareness, and assist in recruiting and retaining volunteers. The launch of the trails will take place on Good Deeds Day itself as part of the event’s peak activities in each locality.
Rafi Elul, Chairman of Ruach Tova of the Arison Group: “Over the past twenty years, Good Deeds Day has transformed from a single day of volunteering into a social movement that encourages doing good all year round. We are proud to see how this initiative connects all sectors of Israeli society – Jews and Arabs, secular and religious, young and old – around the common denominator of giving and mutual responsibility.”
Jerusalem Post readers interested in participating in Good Deeds Day can visit the Good Deeds Day website and choose from a variety of activities and places – near home, at work, as a group or individually, with organizations or nonprofits.
This year, special emphasis will be placed on projects that connect populations, support the defense forces and their families, strengthen communities, and nurture the environment. A wide range of projects will take place, including cross-community dialogue sessions, joint creative workshops for children and the elderly, renovation of welfare institutions, cleaning of beaches and nature reserves, preparing thank-you baskets for reserve service members, and thousands of other local initiatives.
Visit the Good Deeds Day website and choose your way of doing good.
This article was written in collaboration with Ruach Tova Association.