From millionaires hosting large fundraising events to a slum dweller sharing 1 of his 3 idlis with someone else, ‘The Joy of Giving Week’ aims to create an unprecedented togetherness in celebrating the best within each of us as human beings.

To be celebrated all over India from September 27-October 3,  this unique and ambitious initiative, Conceptualised by GiveIndia aims to get people from all walks of life together to engage in acts of giving- money, time, skills or simple acts of kindness.

N Vaghul, Chairman, GiveIndia says, “We are excited at the phenomenal response we have got to this idea, from the time we started working on it. In the last few months, several NGOs, celebrities, corporates and individuals have come forward and promised to celebrate the Joy of Giving during this Week. Overall, we can sense that India is ready for an idea like this. The Joy of Giving Week will be held annually in the week of Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary every year.

Personalities such as Surya, Madhavan and Shriya Saran in Tamil Nadu, Venkatesh, Nagarjuna and P. Gopichand in Hyderabad, Geet Sethi and Mallika Sarabhai in Ahmedabad will endorse the week.

Award winning NGO, Goonj will embark on a mammoth clothes collection drive across 25 cities all over India, during the Week. Goonj re-uses old clothes to provide clothing for the poor and in work-for-clothes programs to implement much needed development work in villages.
                                                       
JAM Magazine, with support from MTV, will hold ‘Campus Joyfests’, targeting 3000 colleges all over India. At least 300 colleges are expected to organize “Joyfests” in association with local charities during the Week.
 
A slew of city level events are also being planned in Chennai.  “Battle of Buffets” is being organised by  Mr Mahadevan, Managing Director of Oriental Cuisines. He says,“The premier hotels and restaurants of Chennai will come together on September 30th as part of the Week, donating their most lavish spreads for a high profile fundraising dinner to benefit over 100 NGOs from Tamil Nadu”.
 
The Banyan would host a special event during the Week bringing together major supporters of the organisation. A painting by MF Hussain and APJ Abdul Kalam would be auctioned at this event.
 
For more, log on to www.joyofgivingweek.org and plan your way of contributing to the Joy of Giving Week!