CINCINNATI -- Dozens of restaurants will be part of a "Giving Tuesday" campaign benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati, raising funds and awareness for the mentoring agency.
#GivingTuesday is an international movement that encourages and celebrates charitable giving. It follows "Black Friday" and "Cyber Monday," with hopes of transforming how people think about, talk about and participate in the holiday giving season.
Restaurants that have partnered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati include: Skyline Chili (38 locations), O'Bryons Bar and Grill, Sky Galley, Kirby's of Loveland, Oakley Pub, Stone Creek Dining Company, Angilo's Pizza, Allyn's, Chick-Fil-A (Glenway Ave) and Zoup (Eastgate). They will all donate a percentage of Tuesday's sales to the agency.
To donate to the campaign, visit the website here. Find participating restaurants on the interactive map here.
Money raised on Giving Tuesday for Big Brothers Big Sisters will go to relationships like the one between Andrew McClanahan and former WCPO reporter Jay Shatz. McClanahan was just 11 years old when he matched with Shatz, but said they shared an instant friendship.
"It gave me something to do other than hanging out with the bad influences from my neighborhood. If it wasn't for the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, I don't know where I'd be," McClanahan said. "I don't think I'd have the job I have now. I don't think I would have the education I have now."
McClanahan said he grew up in the projects in Newport, Kentucky, but his mom promised he would beat the odds and graduate high school. Shatz challenged McClanahan in school, and they started practice job interviews when he was 15. McClanahan remembers his graduation with Shatz and credits his influence to making him one of the first members of his family to attend college.
"I guess the biggest thing I've learned from him is, it sounds simple, but it really changed my life: Choices. The choices you make everyday can shape your future," McClanahan said. "When I was young, I didn't really have the influence in anywhere or anyone around to teach me that so that really helped me out a lot."
McClanahan is now sales manager at a hotel near the Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport and is studying hospitality management at Gateway Community and Technical College.
