6. Giving’s Greatest Hits
Christmas was always a magical time of year in the Davila home. Each Christmas, our home would overflow with family members, friends, and thundering salsa music. We would feast on our favorite cuban dishes, and beg to stay up late to catch Santa dropping off our gifts. We didn’t have much, but we did have a home full of love, traditions, and really good lechón.
This year looks different. Christmas dinner will take place over Zoom, and I’m pretty sure Santa is working with Amazon to deliver gifts. But one tradition we won’t be breaking is our annual Christmas donation. Each year my husband and I designate a portion of our income to the causes we deeply care about. There are a lot of great charities out there doing important work, and in this post I’m going to share a few of my favorites. These are the organizations I trust, and know will make the greatest impact with your donation. For each of these, you can find the organization’s donation page linked below:
Feeding Children Everywhere
As the Public Relations Manager for this organization, I am proud to list it as number one on my personal donations list. The need for food assistance is greater now more than ever. This month we’ve seen a huge spike in hunger relief applications, with over 30,000 families currently in our virtual food bank line. Through our Full Cart program, we ship nutritious meals directly to the homes of these families, serving them with dignity and discretion.
Alzheimer’s Association
Our family has lost too many of our own to Alzheimer’s. The Alzheimer’s Association “fights to accelerate global research, drive risk reduction and early detection, and maximize quality care and support.” We couldn’t have made it through the course of caring for Alzheimer’s patients without them.
charity: water
I learned about this organization after reading the CEO’s book, Thirst. Hearing the impossible obstacles they overcame and the genuine desire to help people in need made donating a no brainer. charity: water’s mission is to bring clean and safe drinking water to people in developing countries. 785 million people lack basic access to water, and with our help they’re getting closer to ending this water crisis.
Hispanic Heritage Scholarship Fund of Metro Orlando
This foundation helped my husband navigate some rough waters, investing in his dreams during a very uncertain time in his journey. They have provided over $1.65 million in scholarships for hispanic students seeking college education. We’re grateful for the support they gave us, and we’re happy to carry the torch and give back!
It’s not too late to make a difference this holiday season. Whether you’re looking to fund research, or want to make an immediate impact, these organizations will be great stewards of your donation. It’s been a hard year for everyone, but if you are able to give, please consider making a contribution to a cause that speaks to you.
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New year,
