Oklahoma musicians and nonprofits encourage generosity for Giving Tuesday

Oklahoma musicians from Isaac Hanson, one-third of the Grammy-nominated sibling trio Hanson, to Kaitlin Butts, an acclaimed, up-and-coming country singer-songwriter, will be performing online sets Tuesday as part of Giving Tuesday.

The performers, along with Brent Giddens, Chris Combs, Amanda Cunningham and more, are participating in a Giving Tuesday campaign benefiting the Red Dirt Relief Fund, a Tulsa-based nonprofit organization that provides a safety net of critical assistance for Oklahomans in the music business in times of need.

For the sixth year, the Red Dirt Relief Fund has dubbed its Giving Tuesday campaign Giving Tunesday.

It will showcase performances from Oklahoma musicians from across the state as well as across musical genres as a way to say thank you to fans for their support of local music and to encourage them to donate to the Red Dirt Relief Fund.

Several Sooner State entertainers will perform live throughout the day on their social media channels. Tulsa music creator, rapper and community activist Steph Simon will lead his music students at McLain High School in performing a song as part of TMC Records, a multimedia record label created for students at the school.

The Red Dirt Relief Fund's Giving Tuesday campaign will culminate with the live and in-person event Giving Tunesday Artist Roulette at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Tulsa's Mercury Lounge. Hosted by Cassie Latshaw, the benefit concert will feature Amber Watson, Jesse Aycock, Brandon Clark, Jacob Tovar, Dustin Pittsley and more.

What is Giving Tuesday and how can Oklahomans get involved?

Following in the footsteps of Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday was created in 2012 to encourage people to do good. Giving Tuesday was originally started on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, and it continues to be marked annually on that date.

Over the past nine years, the concept has grown into a global movement that annually inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate and celebrate generosity.

People are especially encouraged to donate to nonprofit organizations and charitable efforts with missions that are meaningful to them. Likewise, nonprofits are urged to use Giving Tuesday as a platform to remind people of how they are striving to benefit their communities, and many businesses and brands get involved in the Giving Tuesday philanthropy.

Along with the Red Dirt Relief Fund, Oklahoma arts nonprofits that are conducting Giving Tuesday campaigns this year include Lyric Theatre, Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park, Oklahoma City Repertory Theater and the Oklahoma Opry.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Giving Tuesday 2023: Enjoy Oklahoma music, give to local nonprofits