Washington, D.C., November 27, 2012 – The Pan American Health and Education Foundation (PAHEF) joins a unique blend of partners —charities, families, businesses and individuals— for #GivingTuesday, a movement to celebrate giving. Harnessing the collective power, PAHEF and others are working to transform how people think about, talk about and participate in the giving season. Coinciding with the Thanksgiving Holiday and the kickoff of the holiday shopping season, #GivingTuesday will inspire people to take collaborative action to give back to the charities and causes they support and help create a better world.

As a supporter of PAHEF, we invite you to be part of this national celebration of our great tradition of generosity by donating to the Foundation. Your support will help us further our objective to lead strategic collaborative efforts in the Americas to promote equity in health, to combat disease, and to improve the quality of and lengthen the lives of the peoples in the Region.

"#GivingTuesday is a great opportunity for all of us to take a moment from the holiday preparations and help be a part of a movement that can bring positive change to the Americas,” said Dr. Don I. Tharpe, PAHEF president and chief executive officer. “We understand that we are in challenging economic times, but every type of support provided to PAHEF is beneficial and appreciated.”

Currently, thousands of corporate and nonprofit organizations have committed to participate in the initiative. Weekly, new organizations join the movement and provide creative ways people can embrace #GivingTuesday and collaborate in their giving efforts to create more meaningful results. #GivingTuesday is endorsed by Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy, Dorothy A. Johnson Center on Philanthropy, Giving Institute, Giving USA Foundation and InterAction. Charity Navigator and GuideStar are serving as Charity Advisors. In addition, VolunteerMatch is a volunteer advisor to #GivingTuesday.

“#GivingTuesday is a great way to remind us that the spirit of the holiday giving season should be about community,” said Elly Brtva, PAHEF’s vice president/chief philanthropic officer. “The most meaningful gift we can give our children, loved ones, friends and neighbors is the commitment to work together to help build a better world.”

Those who are interested in joining PAHEF’s #GivingTuesday initiative can contact Ms. Brtva at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

About PAHEF: PAHEF is dedicated to improving health in the Americas through health promotion, education, and training. Founded in 1968, PAHEF is a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) public charity that works with the PAHO and other strategic partners in the Americas to mobilize resources and jointly address key health, education, and training priorities. With a deep knowledge of major health concerns and strong relationships with key stakeholders in the region, PAHEF builds successful partnerships and projects that advance health in the Americas. For more information regarding PAHEF, please visit: pahef.org

About #GivingTuesday: #GivingTuesday is a movement to celebrate and provide incentives to give. #GivingTuesday will inspire people to take collaborative action to improve their local communities, give back to the charities and causes they celebrate and help create a better world. #GivingTuesday will harness the power of social media to create a national movement around the holidays that is dedicated to giving, similar to how Black Friday and Cyber Monday have become days that are synonymous with holiday shopping. To learn more about #GivingTuesday or to join the celebration of giving, please visit: www.givingtuesday.org

Media Contacts:
Debora B. Freitas López
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