Giving Thanks During the Holiday Season
One can’t help but be thankful as we are reminded of the blessings we have during the holidays. Spending time during Thanksgiving and Christmas with family is one of the great joys of my growing up in Bakersfield.
Another great thing about growing up in Bakersfield is seeing the tremendous spirit of community that makes Kern County a great place to live and work. Every single day I see instances of kindness and neighbors helping neighbors. We’re used to helping each other and give generously of our time and resources to do so; perhaps to do with our roots as an agricultural and petroleum community or the migration of people who experienced the Great depression.
I am a proud member of the Kern County Bar Association. Our local Bar Association improves the quality of life in our community as well as providing professional networking opportunities. Programs such as Mock Trail, We the People & History Day and the Open Doors to Federal Courts program bring the world of law to local students.
The Kern County Bar Association also celebrates educational and professional achievements. The Judge Arthur E. Wallace Scholarship program provides support to second or third year law students who have a local tie and who demonstrate the academic and personal standards that were exemplified by Judge Wallace. Annually, the Bar Association celebrates the lives to respected members of our local legal system who are working to improve the lives of their clients and others in our community.
In addition, judges, lawyers and other legal staff support numerous charities locally and serve a variety of causes from animal welfare and youth development programs to services for seniors and the environment. Look for the Kern Community Foundation’s upcoming Charity Giving Guide that will be published soon in partnership with Bakersfield Life Magazine for a list of respected local charities that have achieved a “Silver” rating or higher from Guidestar for openness and transparency.
One must remember to be thankful year-round, not just during the holiday season. Many local charities see an uptick in giving during the holidays, yet their work and the need goes on year-round. Please remember to commit to your favorite causes outside of the holiday season as well.
Consider these tips for charitable giving:
- Does the charity match your passion? Your giving should be align with the things that you care about.
- Research your charity to make sure they are fiscally responsible, ethical and effective.
- Look at the charity’s paid and volunteer leadership. Are they people you respect and trust?
- Develop a plan for your charitable giving. Plan ahead and be strategic about supporting the causes you care about.
My clients remind me of why I am so passionate about my work. We take pride in protecting our clients’ rights and ensuring that you have the best legal representation and advice possible. Here’s to a safe and happy holiday season!
Should you need anything, contact my offices.
Statistics found via:
http://www.kernbar.org/?page=Charitable
http://kernfoundation.org
https://www.cdc.gov/headsup/basics/concussion_prevention.html
https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=content.view&cpid=4440&tab=giving-tips
