Giving Tuesday

The Tuesday after Thanksgiving is what’s known as “Giving Tuesday”—a day when individuals, communities, and companies focus on giving to charities and to the less fortunate.

The holiday started in 2012 in New York City and has quickly been observed around the country. During a season of sales and shopping, Giving Tuesday helps to bring our focus back to philanthropy and gratitude—the more important aspects that accompany the holiday season.

As Giving Tuesday approaches, we encourage you to think about how you or your company can give to local or national charities whose values align with your own. After all, this is how we can make the greatest impact, by using our resources to support the things that really matter to us.

This year, we will continue to support the charities and non-profits that are important to each of us. With this in mind, we’ve each shared the organizations that are most dear to us.

Ted Halpern

President & Founder

St. Jude 

Their mission statement says it all - The mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Consistent with the vision of our founder Danny Thomas, no child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family's ability to pay.

Melissa Sotudeh

Director of Advisory Services

Tuition Support / S.O.M.E. (So Others Might Eat) / St. Jude Heroes

Every year we (including my adult children) donate back to their universities and private high schools directed to tuition support.

S.O.M.E. (So Others Might Eat) provides housing, healthcare, education and workforce, and emergency and social services. I like to donate time and treasure to this organization.

This past year I ran for St. Jude Heroes. This was the first time I ran for charity and it was a breath taking experience. I plan to do this more in the future.

Daniel Trumbower

Senior Wealth Advisor

Mt. Airy Net / Fellowship of Christian Athletes / Children's Hospital of Philadelphia ("CHOP")

Mt. Airy Net is a highly impactful organization that provides assistance to those in need within our community.  My wife serves as the Pantry Manager and organizes donations and distributions.  

Our children have attended summer camps at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes for golf and track and field.  Faith based and very positive environment.  

Our niece spent much of her childhood at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (“CHOP”) battling a rare disease.  We are forever grateful for the care they provided.  

Kirsty Peev

Director, Portfolio Management

Comfort Cases

Comfort Cases supports children entering the foster care system. Many of these kids arrive with little or no personal belongings, which are often stuffed into a trash bag. 

Comfort Cases provide kids entering the foster care system a backpack of their own containing basic 'comforts' - soap, toothbrush and paste, pajamas, a book and a blanket.  

This charity is special to me, because I never forget how fortunate I was to grow up with stability. My heart has always gone out to kids who have to navigate unstable living conditions as well as all the other challenges life throws at them. 

Nisha Patel

Retirement Plan Consultant & Portfolio Administrator

LAWS (Loudoun Abused Women Shelter)

LAWS is a great organization that helps all adults, youth and child victims of violence.  They provide shelter, therapy, legal services, support groups, advocacy, and community outreach.  

I think this organization is special as it empowers victims of violence so they may live free from fear, anxiety, and danger.  I think everyone has a right to live a peaceful life, and LAWS provides the help to those who need it.  

Cody James

Wealth Analyst

Good Sports

Good Sports purchases and distributes sports equipment, apparel, and footwear to youth clubs and recreational leagues across the country that are in need. This results in better access for children to get involved in organized sports.

I am passionate about this charity because I feel that playing organized sports growing up from the time I was four years old went a long way into shaping me into the person that I am today. I made so many friendships through sports, learned so many social skills in pursuing a goal collectively, and stayed active, healthy and out of trouble. 

I wish that any child that wants to play a sport can do so and benefit in the same way as I did.

Lindsie James

Operations Manager

Friends of Homeless Animals (FOHA)

FOHA is a non-profit, no-kill shelter for dogs and cats, located on over 40 acres of land in Loudoun County, VA. They are dedicated to saving abandoned and abused dogs and cats. Their goals are to provide a safe haven until they are able to find permanent homes. They provide shelter, food, medical care and rehabilitation. 

Susan Grimail

Client Administrator

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society / Florida Hospice

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society - My husband, and his first wife adopted Jason in West Palm Beach, FL in 1978. Jason was in his senior year of college when he was diagnosed with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia. CML is a slowly progressing disease that usually occurs during or after middle age. He fought a long battle and sadly passed at the young age of 34.

Florida Hospice - Hospice of Palm Beach County was where Jason passed. Suncoast Hospice cared for my Mother, and 5 months later my aunt. Hospice and palliative care guides patients and families as they address issues of life completion and closure. When things need to be said, issues resolved, and dreams fulfilled, hospice will be there for the patient and family.

When it comes to end of life decision making for patients and families, the people with Hospice are above and beyond supportive. They are angels.

David Leone

Wealth Planner

Live Like Lukas

Live Like Lukas helps families with assistance and support to help fight against childhood cancer. This charity is particularly important to myself and my family as we lost a family member to leukemia years ago. His story was featured on ESPN a few years back titled the 'Dutch Destroyer' 

Julie Spaeth

Administrative Assistant

Loudoun Hunger Relief

My family and I regularly support Loudoun Hunger Relief and the community effort to provide food security for those in need.

LHR is a food pantry that provides emergency food supplies to Loudoun County residents.  LHR and its community partners provide enough food for three days for each person in a family. A family or individual can pick up food twice a month at LHR’s pantry. They also offer a Mobile Market which goes out into the community to distribute food supplies.  

We recently participated in the Thanksgiving Day Dinner Bag / Baking Bag donation effort.