Give back with the first-ever donatable Hangout-a-thon on Google+

As the holidays approach and our calendars become full, it can be hard to find time to give back to the causes you care about most. Tomorrow, on Giving Tuesday—an annual one-day event that encourages people to make donations to their favorite charities—we’re making it easier for you to connect with a worthy cause through the first-ever “Hangout-a-thon” on Google+.

Starting at 9 a.m. EST tomorrow on the Giving Tuesday Google+ page, you can join nonprofit organizations working to improve clean water access, eliminate bullying, and provide disaster relief in the Philippines. Learn more about their work, ask questions and connect directly to the people they’re helping. Celebrities such as Jennifer Garner, Chris Daughtry and Sophia Bush will stop by to join in on the fun, and you can also donate to the charity of your choice while watching the Hangout.

Here’s a preview of what you can do:

• Connect with people engaging in relief efforts on the ground in the Philippines through Save the Children and UNICEF
• Join conversations with the founders of Warby Parker and TOMS about gifts that give back, moderated by our partner Mashable
• Get inspired during a morning yoga tutorial with the Africa Yoga Project in Kenya
• Hear how the Malala Fund is working to promote education as a peace-building tool in developing nations
• Participate in a quick coding lesson from Code.org, Girls Who Code and Code2040 and learn what you can do to support digital literacy

We hope you’ll participate by watching the Hangout-a-thon, donating to a cause you care about and posting about the event with #givingtuesday on Google+. And to keep the giving going throughout the holiday season, download One Today, our Android app that lets you donate to a different nonprofit every day.

Posted by Ramya Raghavan, Head of Politics and Causes for Google+