Frank McMahon knows how to get his fellow Hendricken alumni to open up their wallets.

McMahon is one of a number of people who made Giving Tuesday an event that in the course of 24 hours raised thousands of dollars for Warwick non-profits. McMahon, a member of the Hendricken Class of 1981 and member of the school’s board of directors, issued a $10,000 challenge, and it paid off big time, raising more than $50,000 by midnight Tuesday. When the last of the gifts from 172 donors had been counted, the total was more than twice what was raised last year at $54,515.

One of those responding was Lee Beliveau, development director for Comprehensive Community Action Program (CCAP) based in Cranston and running a number of programs in Warwick. Hendricken alumnus Beliveau immediately recognized the appeal of a challenge and what that did for the school.

“Those who did matches did well,” he said of non-profits that held Giving Tuesday drives. He said CCAP raised about $5,000 during the day, appealing for donations through its list of email contacts, Facebook and other social media.

Beliveau feels Giving Tuesday is well timed after the hype of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. He said giving has become “traditional” after Thanksgiving, before Christmas and before the end of the year for those thinking of making tax-deductible gifts.

The ease of online giving and exposure gained through social media reached alumni around the globe, said Hendricken’s development director Martha Murray. She credited the school’s staff with email blasts and other features of the online appeal.

Not all locally coordinated Giving Tuesday drives were as successful. Eleanor Acton, director of development at the Warwick Boys and Girls Clubs, feels the club has “more traditional” donors who prefer to receive a written appeal and write out a check. The club’s response to Giving Tuesday fell short of last year, although, she noted, the need is greater than ever. She thought with an improving economy more parents are finding employment that heightens the demand for after school activities provided by the clubs.

Giving Tuesday wasn’t entirely online. It has also been linked to retail sales.

Mayor Scott Avedisian and North Providence Mayor Charles Lombardi joined Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ocean State at Barnes and Noble on Tuesday in honor of the global day of giving.

BBBSOS’s goal is to “provide mentors to the youth of RI who will motivate and empower them to make positive decisions, improve academic results, avoid risky behaviors, and grow in a way that will positively impact the community.” On Giving Tuesday, anyone making a purchase at Barnes and Noble could mention BBSOS at checkout so the organization could receive 20 percent of the proceeds.

Cassandra Priante, a sophomore at Bryant University and vice president of Bryant's BBBS club, said she’s enjoyed participating in the program as a “Big Sister” and recommended it to anyone interested in trying.

“Even in the short time I’ve been doing it, it’s been one of the most positive experiences for me,” she said. “I look forward to [seeing my little sister] every week and seeing the difference between our interactions when we first started and how they are now.”

President of Bryant's club Jeffrey Cohen, a junior, said the same about his time as a “Big Brother.”

“You’re making a difference in a kid’s life today to make a difference in their future,” he said.

Mayors Allan Fung of Cranston and Donald Grebian of Pawtucket could not attend the event but sent along their own proclamations. Avedisian thanked BBSOS for “consistently being the voice for kids who need mentoring and assistance for a bright future.” Lombardi echoed his sentiments.

“Thank you for what you do. You help make the state of Rhode Island what it is,” he said.

Lombardi also announced that BBBSOS would receive $1,000 from North Providence’s annual charitable Christmas festivities.

Correction: This article has been updated to indicate that Cohen and Priante are President and Vice President of the Big Brothers Big Sisters Club at Bryant University, not President and Vice President of Fundraising for BBBSOS as previously stated.