AAA estimates that about 113 million people will travel for the holidays, with more than 100 million of them traveling by car. That’s a huge increase of 3.6M travelers over last year, and the latest sign that we’re growing more and more comfortable with post-pandemic living. But it could only take one viral surge to turn an entire industry on its head again. How are you getting to grandma’s house this year?
Around this time of year, the age-old question returns: Is it better to give than to receive? Sometimes, it depends on the gift — and who’s doing the giving!
It’s no contest. Giving gifts is always better than receiving them. I usually have my holiday shopping done in June because I can’t help collecting things that my friends and loved ones would enjoy. It doesn’t need to be anything extravagant or expensive. The thought truly does count, as long as you put some thought into it. And the look on their face when they open the gift always makes you feel better than when you open another hand mixer from Aunt Joanie.
Dude, who doesn’t like presents? They say it’s the thought that counts, but I’m the kind of guy who loves a good white elephant exchange. Everyone comes away with a gift, and more often than not, it’s something you’d never expect to use but ends up as an integral component of your life — like a new toothbrush rack or a bedazzled beer koozie. There’s also something about tearing into that first perfectly wrapped gift on Christmas morning. It smells like victory.
Right here in Silicon Valley, the innovation capital of the world, thousands of foster youth are falling through the cracks. 75% of foster youth in Santa Clara County are performing below grade level, and 47% receive special education services — compared with 12% of the general population. Meanwhile, foster youth supported by Pivotal graduate from college at 10x the national average.
Do these numbers convince you to give?
Dear Friends, Family, and Clients,
‘Tis the season to celebrate and give thanks! We want to take a break from the usual Chic vs. Geek to bring an especially deserving group to your attention during the holidays: foster youth, who, through no fault of their own, have not had their own parents available to raise them.
It is not uncommon for a child in foster care to move between eight or more homes during their formative years. Only 50% of foster youth graduate from high school, and just 3-4% earn a college degree. 20% become homeless the day they age out of care.
We can be a pillar of support to change these odds through donations to Pivotal, a local nonprofit. The team at Pivotal are willing to do whatever it takes to improve outcomes for foster youth, including scholarships, academic tutoring, professional development, workshops, summer internships, and job placement for over 500 foster youth per year.
But Pivotal provides so much more — their dedicated staff creates a community where foster youth feel understood and supported.
We invite you to read about Jaxmine, who caught COVID and had to sleep in their car, terrified they were in an unsafe situation. Pivotal got Jaxmine a hotel room to help them recover, and now they’re studying Molecular Biology with a 4.0 GPA. Sadly, Jaxmine’s story is not uncommon. They are one of nearly half a million foster youth in the U.S.
We are running a personal campaign to raise $5,000 for Pivotal by Christmas Day. Will you help us get there with a gift of any size — $10, $100, $1,000?
Thanks so much for your consideration!
With gratitude,
We all love hosting our family and friends during the holidays, but after all the food and fun and merriment, there’s the inevitable mess to clean up. Need some tips to speed up the process? We’ve got your back.
I like to get a head start on my cleaning by planning ahead. Clear out your fridge to make room for leftovers, line your roasting pan before cooking your meat of choice, and soak your pots and pans right after you finish to fight those tough grease stains.
As the DIY half of our team, I’m never satisfied with off-the-shelf cleaning products. If you want to get your home spic and span and smelling great, try cooking up one of these recipes for essential oils before starting your post-holiday cleanse.
