Photo by Claire Cecil
Yesterday, organizations, companies and individuals across the globe came together for Good Deeds Day.
Mason took part and hosted the annual event that marks an international day of good. Started in Israel in 2007, Good Deeds Day takes place in 50 countries across the world. This year marked Mason’s second year participating in this celebration.
Hosted by GMU Hillel, the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being, The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington and Ask Big Questions, the event brought together numerous organization and individuals over the common goal of bringing about good.
“The whole idea behind the day is promoting good deeds and the power of positivity,” Dana Blumenfeld, student coordinator for Good Deeds Day, said. “The main purpose is to get as many people to do good as possible. It can be something as small as holding the door open for someone, to as big as changing the world! A small good deed can have a ripple effect.”
With booths and tents set up across campus, members of the Mason community could gain information about Good Deeds Day, well-being and answers to any questions they had about the event.
Good Deeds Day acted as the kick off to “Spring Into Well-Being,” a six-week campaign encouraging the Mason community to get involved in various welfare events.
The Center for the Advancement of Well-Being hosted an activity called “Reflections of Well-Being” where members of the community could write what well-being meant to them on a mirror.
Other Mason organizations held their own awareness and charity projects during the event. They incorporated positivity enriched activities, like making gratitude notes, in order to encourage acts of kindness.
“I really loved seeing different organizations coming together for Good Deeds Day,” AnnaMarijka Tilleman, program coordinator for the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being, said. “I think that this is one of the most successful Good Deeds Day we have ever had. People naturally wanted to get involved so it’s a good feeling when people want to actively take part in an event like this.”
The day-long event not only brought about positivity, but also created a greater sense of community across campus.
“I saw a huge sense of community,” Tilleman said. “Today was a day when I saw Mason students stop what they are doing, live in the present moment and realize what is happening around them. I think Good Deeds Day really brought the Mason community together. It didn’t matter what organization you were a part of. It didn’t matter where you came from. What mattered was what you are passionate about and what made you interested in doing good for the community.”
Photos by Claire Cecil.
