​Since its inaugural year in 2012, #GivingTuesday has been a national program that encourages charitable activity at the start of the holiday season. Toledo Community Foundation supports local nonprofits in this effort by promoting the program and encouraging donations. With over 2,500 nonprofits in the Toledo Region, there are more than enough opportunities for you to kick off this holiday season with the spirit of giving.
​
This year, #GivingTuesdayNWO is on November 28, 2017. For the second year in a row, Toledo Community Foundation and The Blade have partnered to make a matching grant opportunity available to any eligible local participating nonprofit organization and one $5,000 award to one area nonprofit organization who participates in #GivingTuesdayNWO. More information can be found on the TCF website.

​In the Toledo Region we know that It Matters Where You Make It, which is why we also know it is important to support our local small businesses. The Saturday after Thanksgiving is Small Business Saturday. Celebrate our community’s makers by kicking-off your holiday shopping spree with locally made goods and services.

We get it-there is a BIG game that day, but whether you are wearing Scarlet & Gray or Maize & Blue we can at least agree that the 419 is home and small businesses make our community thrive. We encourage you to shop small all weekend long and support our local economy throughout the year.

By: Jeraldine Stewart, Owner, Jera’s Heavenly Sweet
 
Owners: Jeraldine Stewart (Jera) and her husband William Stewart
Location: One Seagate Suite Place 107, Toledo, OH 43604
Facebook
 
After ten years of being a local home based baker and building a following by word of mouth with the food truck crowd, Jera says she was blessed with an exciting new location in the Fifth Third bank building on Summit Street.  The bakery officially celebrated their Grand Opening on July 10th, 2017.

​Owners: Raja and Jessica Salfiti
Grand Opening: Summer 2017
Location: 3332 W Central Avenue, Toledo, OH
Have you checked out Fuzzy’s Taco on Central Avenue? Opened by University of Toledo alumni Raja and Jessica Salfiti, the restaurant serves fresh, handmade Baja-style Mexican food. With indoor and outdoor patio seating, head over to grab a bite, because after all, “It’s Taco O’Clock Somewhere.”

​For 30 years, Applied Imaging has helped businesses become more efficient in how they communicate and manage information flow. Though Applied Imaging got its start selling and leasing copiers, printers, and fax machines, it has grown to offer so much more. From Managed IT services to Document Management, the staff at Applied Imaging does what it takes to be the most respected regional technology provider. They have found success by following the mission and passion of the company and it’s leader, John Lowery. It’s the passion for service, for people and business. After opening a new office in downtown Toledo this summer, the people at Applied Imaging are excited to bring their service, care and culture to local businesses here in Ohio.

Innovative solutions to international industry-wide problems are being developed right here in Toledo. Radco Industries is a technology development house that offers their clients a blend of expertise to develop custom machinery and robotics integration.  Rick, Mary and Nathan Anderson, the leadership team at Radco, are proud of the team that they have built to design custom automation from concept to solution.
​
Mary and Rick Anderson bought the 50 year-old Radco Industries to develop new technologies based on the custom automation and robotics capabilities of the company. Says Mary, “We bought the company because of the employees. We are more futuristic and needed people who think outside the box, those that can challenge themselves.” They continue to have some business with legacy customers from a rich history of building prototype equipment, but they spend a lot of time working on internal projects to develop new technologies in new industries.