After The Weekend Shopping Mayhem Celebs On Twitter Remind You To Pay It Forward On #GivingTuesday

Now that the weekend mayhem of Black Friday, Small Biz Saturday, and Cyber Monday are beginning to simmer down, celebrities are using their clout to remind shoppers that since they were able to save so much cash by shopping during some of the biggest sales of the year over the weekend, then they just might have a little bit to spare for charity on for Giving Tuesday.

Using the hashtag #GivingTuesday, celebrities such as Kendall Jenner, Victoria Justice, and the Gate Foundation are gently reminding their followers and fans to think about those who were not as fortunate as many were to take advantage of the online and in-store deals. Giving Tuesday is all about paying it forward and these social media savy celebs are not shying away from sharing their favorite charities and causes to send donations to.

The #GivingTuesday tradition reportedly began around four years ago with what was supposed to be a small scale effort with 92Y, the original organizers in New York City, hoping to get just 50 non-profits to participate. But the reaction to the movement was overwhelming and 2,500 charities ended up taking part in the first ever #GivingTuesday.

Last year, the movement had almost 35,000 nonprofit organizations taking part and had expanded worldwide to Kenya, New Zealand, and Singapore.

Kathy Calvin, the co-founder of #GivingTuesday says the movement is not just about shelling out cash for the notable charities, but also about the spirit of giving and volunteerism, which is collaboration between real people and the nonprofits themselves.

"It's controlled by nobody, owned by everybody. We're working together to raise awareness. This includes logos, sample press releases, social media toolkits. Anything we could think of," she said.

Although #GivingTuesday has its critics - some think the movement is empty and simply a way to flood people's inboxes with appeals for donations during a time when giving is already at a height due to end-of-year tax incentives. Others say a giving movement would be more beneficial if made during the spring or summer months when donations tend to be low.

Nevertheless, hundreds are using the #GivingTuesday hashtag and donating their time this second day of December to give back to their communities and to causes around the world that needs volunteers and donations.

Here are just some of the causes your favorite celebrities want you to get involved in this #GivingTuesday:

Photo: HM Revenue & Customs | Flickr