Celebrating Giving Tuesday
The Definition of Amazing
Supporting the People You Believe In
Spotlight on Gerta Toska
F ive years ago, Gerta Toska joined the office. She came after years of begging from Marc Shapiro, who happens to be friends with her husband and was the best man at their wedding. Marc knew Gerta would make the perfect addition to the firm, and when she joined, it was clear why. She transformed our systems, redefined organization, and had become invaluable with our clients. Earlier this year, Gerta went on maternity leave to welcome her son Aiden into the world. Gerta isn’t someone who craves the spotlight, but we missed her so much while she was on maternity leave, so we wanted to show her off a little. She has a pretty amazing story. “My family moved this country shortly after I turned 15 years old,” Gerta says. “The moment we stepped foot in JFK International Airport in New York, my childhood ended. I was the only one in my family who could speak English, so I needed to help my parents with everything. I would go with them to the DMV to translate, make doctors’ appointments, and answer phone calls; there was no question. It’s what you do for family.”
November is usually all about Thanksgiving, but it isn’t the only holiday that encourages generosity. Giving Tuesday is a phenomenal celebration in which millions of people from across the globe are inspired to spend 24 hours giving back to the
communities they love. Origin and Goal
Giving Tuesday is celebrated every year on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, and this year, the holiday lands on Dec. 3! It was established in 2012 by the United Nations Foundation and New York’s 92nd Street Y as a response to consumer-driven holidays like Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The purpose of the holiday was to spread the spirit of giving, not only for the people in our nation but individuals across the world. The goal is“to create a massive wave of generosity that lasts well beyond that day and touches every person on the planet.” Technology at Its Best Through the use of social media and technology, the organization hopes to encourage and spread generosity on a global scale using the hashtag #GivingTuesday. The website states that“... technology and social media could be used to make generosity go viral; that people fundamentally want to give and talk about giving.” Through massive social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, the individuals and companies participating in Giving Tuesday can spread their missions and messages all over the world, encouraging others to do the same. How You Can Celebrate Now is the perfect opportunity to support your community and the causes you believe in. The best part of this holiday is that “giving”doesn’t just refer to donating money. People can give back by volunteering their time to help a nonprofit business, donating goods and food, or just buying a stranger some lunch. Even the smallest actions can have the biggest impact. If you’re interested in participating in Giving Tuesday, get together with your friends, family, sports teammembers, or neighbors to brainstorm on how you can give back. To learn more about how you can participate, visit GivingTuesday.org .
Gerta and her family hadn’t been living in the United States long before she and her mother were in a car accident. They were hit by a drunk driver who
Thanksgiving isn’t a hard holiday for those who eat paleo. Almost all of the savory staples were paleo before it was cool. Stuffing is a notable exception, but this recipe’s got you covered.
2 • www.AttorneyShapiro.com
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online