By Dean Ridings and Ron Sachs
Most Americans are likely to look back on 2020 as the most difficult year in their lives, personally and professionally. The prolonged grip of the global COVID-19 pandemic and its severe direct and indirect impacts have translated into unexpected fiscal and physical problems for most individuals, families, workplaces and communities.
The virus and other stressors of 2020 have draped a blanket of dark days from coast to coast, leaving many Americans grappling with the question of how to keep their spirits up. America’s Newspapers, a national newspaper trade association, and Sachs Media, a leading Florida-based national communications firm, have partnered to launch Share Gratitude 2020 as a way to ignite a spirit of thankfulness, an inspiring holiday campaign from now through the end of the year.
Share Gratitude 2020 encourages all people throughout the country to look into their hearts and share the things for which they’re most grateful — health, family, faith, friends, pets or anything else — through the power of hometown newspapers and social media. This initiative is an opportunity for everyone to count their blessings, even through this hardest time, and to share their thoughts as a way to inspire others.
We’re grateful that hundreds of daily community newspapers across the USA are participating in this program. And, we’re proud to provide this campaign to millions of Americans to help recognize the positive core values in our lives. While this year has been challenging, we don’t want to be defined by the darkness; we want to ignite a spark in everyone.
To join the effort, please consider how you and your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers can reflect on the things for which you are thankful. Visit ShareGratitude2020.com and click on "Share My Gratitude" — write about things for which you’re grateful and decide if you want to share a photo or video.
While COVID-19 and other challenges may continue to be a daily factor in our lives into 2021, we know that there are also solutions coming as well. It is our hope that you will participate in this simple solution that amplifies hope for the holiday season. And to get this campaign started, we’re grateful for you, our readers, who care about our community. Thank you for sharing the gratitude!
Dean Ridings, CEO of America’s Newspapers, may be reached at dridings@newspapers.org
Ron Sachs, Founder/CEO of Sachs Media, may be reached at ron@sachsmedia.com
