Today’s blog is special. On this day – Tuesday, November 29 – #Giving Tuesday is being celebrated around the world by people giving to their favorite charities, volunteering, and helping in other creative ways.

#GivingTuesday was kicked off in 2012 in the United States and this is the first year that the Czech Republic has joined this global movement.

In honor of #Giving Tuesday, we’re drawing a ViaMapu of communities in the Czech Republic where exciting community projects are taking place. There are dozens already and while the site is in Czech, the map is universal so we invite you to take a look. Our goal for #Giving Tuesday is to raise funds for one such project – to put one more bright spot of community spirit on the map.

Most of our community grants are about $2000. That is enough money for a community group to do things like commission a revitalization design for a public space or engage the community in restoring a wayside cross. That’s how much we hope to raise today. You can give here.

A similar Via grant helped young people gather oral histories from senior citizens in Oldřichov v Hájích in Eastern Bohemia. A unique collection of stories and photos that show how life changed in this village was the treasure that emerged.