By Andy Tarnoff Publisher Published Dec 17, 2012 at 3:28 PM

Think the world is ending on Friday? Then you're not going to miss the $5 you donate to your favorite charity on Thursday.

Joe Oakland, an old friend of mine, and his wife Candice came up with the Givepocalypse, a whimsical way to encourage people to give a little something extra this holiday season.

They're supporting the initiative entirely virally through Facebook, but I'll sum it up for you right here.

It's pretty easy, actually. On Dec. 20 (the Givepocalypse), give an extra $5 (or more, of course) to a charity you support and encourage your friends to do it, too.

Oakland hopes the informal campaign will raise $1,000 or more on Thursday, and your participation will certainly help.

Five dollars is pretty easy, my fellow Milwaukeeans. If the world does end, think of it as one your last good deed.

And if they world continues to fight another day, then you can sleep well on Friday knowing that you helped a charity in need.

Andy is the president, publisher and founder of OnMilwaukee. He returned to Milwaukee in 1996 after living on the East Coast for nine years, where he wrote for The Dallas Morning News Washington Bureau and worked in the White House Office of Communications. He was also Associate Editor of The GW Hatchet, his college newspaper at The George Washington University.

Before launching OnMilwaukee.com in 1998 at age 23, he worked in public relations for two Milwaukee firms, most of the time daydreaming about starting his own publication.

Hobbies include running when he finds the time, fixing the rust on his '75 MGB, mowing the lawn at his cottage in the Northwoods, and making an annual pilgrimage to Phoenix for Brewers Spring Training.