Earlier today, we wrote about Google forgoing its usual holiday gifts to its ad partners and instead giving $20 million to a group of charities. Now it looks like Facebook is doing something similar. In an email sent out to various friends and members of the press, Facebook’s Communications and Policy team notes that rather than having a holiday party this year, it is giving out $25 virtual tokens that you can use for a donation.

Here’s what the message says, “In lieu of a party this season, we are making a $25 donation on your behalf to U.S. classrooms in need. Please go to DonorsChoose.org, enter the code in the token above, and select a project to support.” Again, a nice gesture from a one of the big Silicon Valley players. And certainly better than yet another holiday party (there is seriously one just about every night out here right now).

Free drinks are nice. Helping out needy students is nicer.