Sometimes we forget that the holiday season is about giving more than gifts to our friends and family.
Mashable is thrilled to team up with Google+ for the first-ever donatable Hangout-a-thon on Dec. 3 for Giving Tuesday, which has grown into a global movement in its second year. Last year, Mashable was proud to join our partners at the 92nd Street Y and the U.N. Foundation to launch Giving Tuesday, an annual day dedicated to giving back, which kicks off the charitable holiday giving season.
See also: 15 Holiday Gifts That Give Back
The Hangout-a-thon is a phoneathon for the connected generation of the 21st century. It will feature 12 hours of thought-provoking guests, who will share updates on some of the most disruptive non-profits working today. The best part is, if you like what you hear, you can take action right on the spot by donating to the project through the Google+ Hangout.
Beginning at 9 a.m. on the Giving Tuesday Google+ page, the Hangout-a-thon will highlight organizations working on topics ranging from veterans' issues to providing relief in the Philippines. You can tune in for a cooking class, a guided yoga practice and a coding lesson. Some exciting celebrity guests, such as Jennifer Garner, Chris Daughtry and Sophia Bush, will be joining the Hangout-a-thon to talk about the causes they're supporting this holiday season. And because holiday shopping is on so many people's minds, some of the hottest brands in sustainable fashion like Toms and Warby Parker will showcase their new products.
We hope you'll tune in on Giving Tuesday to learn about new causes, donate to your favorite charities and share what you learn using the hashtag #GivingTuesday. We think this is the future of social good — and we hope you do, too.
Image: Chris McGrath/Getty Images