The holiday season is upon us, and with the time for gifts comes the time for giving. That is why I have decided to dedicate this month to a series of charities that are significant to me, and my family, in unique ways. We all know my blogs are usually light-hearted, but I wanted to wrap up 2021 with something a little more sincere. That being said, I’d like to thank each of you for sticking around and spending another year listening to me talk about 401K’s, investment strategies, and savings plans. Santa would be proud to see you trading your stockings stuffers for stock investments - he’s a man of business.
This year, the best gift I can hope to receive would be the gift of giving back. I will match your donations for each charity, stopping once each charity reaches $1,250.00. This means I will donate a total of $5,000 should each charity reach the $1,250 goal. So, if you find yourself looking for a way to spread the holiday spirit, I encourage you to explore the links and organizations I have listed below.
Special Needs
A close friend of mine has been involved with Cobblestone Arts Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of those with special needs through Art, Education, and Participation. Through music, dance, visual arts, and theatre, the students at Cobblestone Arts Center have discovered a higher sense of self, accomplishment, and value from their creations.
Donate to Cobblestone Arts Center
Veterans
As a veteran myself, reaching out to organizations that support other veterans was a complete no-brainer and something I was passionate about pursuing. The Veterans Outreach Center offers free support programs to veterans in Rochester and surrounding counties. Anything from employment assistance, job training, legal counseling, and more is provided.
Donate to Veterans Outreach Center
Troubled Youth
As an adolescent, my father attended a residential facility for troubled youth. He was given the gift of discipline, direction, and, believe it or not, drums. Interacting with a combination of mentors and music motivated him to change his life for the better and become the man he is today. That is why organizations, such as The Hillside Children's Center, hold a special place in my heart.
Donate to Hillside Children's Center
Domestic Abuse
A close friend of mine was a therapist for the Willow Center, and through her I came to know and appreciate the work they do there. The Willow Center is an organization dedicated to providing support and safety for survivors of domestic abuse and their children. Through the help of their supporters, the Willow Center helps to supply survivors with anything from a hot meal and emergency shelter, to counseling and educational training programs.
For the rest of this blog series, I will take a deep dive into each of the organizations and explain exactly what they do, why they do it, and why they deserve our support. I hope you can stick around with me for this month - it is the most important one yet.
Thank you again, and I’ll see you next week!