December is a great time for nonprofits. It's traditionally a month of giving in America, and many of us see the month as a great time for philanthropy, connecting with our donors and celebrating at the end of the year. 

And this year, I'm proud to say we can celebrate one more big milestone. Several weeks ago, I contacted the Governor's office to ask about designating a month to celebrate and honor nonprofits. And last week, they responded with a wholehearted "YES!" 

This month, Oklahoma will celebrate our first (and certainly not last) Nonprofit Month. Gov. Stitt proclaimed it for December (and a copy of that proclamation is on our website). The month will begin with GivingTuesday this week and we will celebrate our work through the end of the year. 

The Governor's proclamation included a few very important numbers. There are 20,523 registered nonprofits in Oklahoma. And last year, those organizations generated $16.9 billion (with a b) in revenue. We also hold more than $53.5 billion in assets, many with our generous foundations around the state. 

And Oklahomans went to work as volunteers. Our citizens donated 94.5 million hours of service to nonprofits to change lives, enrich lives and save lives throughout the state. 

But beyond the numbers, our nonprofits serve as a vital business sector that puts money back into communities and provides services that save our state and municipalities money. Our sector transforms communities. 

This year, please give and give generously. And celebrate with us. Tell a friend about your favorite nonprofits. Talk about giving on your social media. Celebrate the work and the power of the sector. 

 This December, let's continue to do the most good across Oklahoma. And thank you, Gov. Stitt, for your important proclamation. We are working together to honor our incredible nonprofits.