International Day of Charity is a holiday that hasn’t been around for very long, but it’s already one that’s beginning to make an impact on people’s lives. This holiday was founded in 2012 by the United Nations and has been observed on September 5th ever since 2013. The purpose of this holiday is to raise awareness about the need for charity and to provide a platform for charities all around the world to gain attention on a local, national, and international level.

International Day of Charity History

This holiday was initially thought of by the Hungarian Parliament in 2011 to raise the profile, organize events, and increase public support for charitable organizations. The date of September 5th was chosen because it was the anniversary of the death of Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Mother Teresa had received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 for her struggle to overcome poverty. In December of 2012, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution to designate the 5th of September as International Day of Charity. It was co-sponsored by 44 UN Member States. It began to be observed the following year on September 5, 2013.

Facts About Charities

We’ve rounded up quite a collection of interesting, if not random, facts about charities. So sit back, grab yourself a beverage, and enjoy these random factoids about charities and/or about giving to charities.

• J.K. Rowling lost her billionaire status in 2021 due to her heavy giving to various charities and high British taxes.
• All gambling profits in Finland through Finland’s Slot Machine Association are used to support Finnish health and welfare.
• Newman’s Own, the late actor Paul Newman’s business, donates 100% of post-tax profits to charity.
• Newman’s Own has donated over $450 million to charity since 1982.
• Susan G. Komen, The Breast Cancer Cure Foundation, has been suing other small charities for using the phrase “for the cure” or for using the color pink.
• More than 66% of Australians donate money to charity, making Australia one of the most generous countries on the planet.
• Ireland and Canada are the number two and number three countries in the world as far as giving to charity goes.
• People who regularly give money to charity are happier than those who don’t.

Observing International Day of Charity

Anyone who wants to observe International Day of Charity can do so by supporting one of the many charities that exist in the world. We recommend doing your research first before supporting one to ensure that it’s legitimate and that it’s serving a worthy cause. Another way to observe this holiday is by raising the profile of a charity by posting it on social media and using the hashtag #InternationalDayOfCharity.