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Hi everyone,
No doubt your inbox is filled with holiday greetings and notes of gratitude this week. ‘Tis the season! Of course, this year feels pretty different, and to be honest — I’m dancing between feelings of gratitude (I have much to be grateful for!) and disappointment that I won’t be surrounded by others or the usual hubbub on Thanksgiving Day.
I could write pages about how grateful I am for you all — our community, our clients, our team, our friends. But there’s something else, too. It feels like we’ve turned a major corner this year. The pandemic and the racial justice movement have helped many of us as individuals, business leaders and organizations cultivate a greater sense of compassion and empathy. 2020 has put a spotlight on long-held systemic inequalities, but also a will to truly do something about it, and understand one another’s experiences. I’ve learned so much from so many of you this year.
From the bottom and top of my heart, thank you.
Susan
PS: We’ll be sending the full McPherson Memo out next week, but in the meantime, a few timely updates:
- On December 4 at noon ET, I’ll be hosting an event with Purpose Mindset author Dr. Akhtar Badshah and former Microsoft executive Margo Day. We will dig into how companies can create a culture of giving, but also compassion, empathy and volunteerism regardless of size and stature. RSVP to tera@mcpstrategies.com.
- With this week’s National Day of Mourning and Native American Heritage Day, take time to consider how you can be a better ally to Indigenous people.
How we’re celebrating Giving Tuesday:
The Global Day of Giving is one of our favorite holidays! We asked our team members to share a nonprofit organization they’re planning to support this year.
- “I’m planning to support New Georgia Project this Giving Tuesday to encourage civic engagement in Georgia leading up to the January runoffs and Spelman College, to support the young women currently attending my alma mater.” - Lauren Hill
- “For Giving Tuesday this year, I'll be donating to the Chicago organization Brave Space Alliance — a Black and trans-led LGBTQ+ center dedicated to providing resources and programming to queer people on the South and West sides of the city.” - McKenna Gramoll
- “My sister-in-law Luma is the founder of the Fugees Family, which empowers refugees to thrive through schooling, soccer and community. I look forward to supporting them on Giving Tuesday and throughout the year!” - Ellen Miller Gilcrest
- “The Lucia Mayerson David Fund provides scholarships for Latinx youth and non-native English speakers to attend the University of Massachusetts. This is the memorial fund we set up in honor of my mom who spent her career helping Latino youth.” - Paulita David
- “Plan International. My mom and I have sponsored several children through Plan over the years, and I always give extra around the holiday season to benefit their programs around girls' empowerment. COVID-19 has been a significant setback for vulnerable women and girls all over the world, and it feels especially necessary to support this cause in 2020.” - Chloë Barran
- “On this Giving Tuesday, I plan to donate to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. This foundation’s mission is to fund research and drug development to ultimately put an end to this genetic disease.” - Brandon Estrada
- “Girls Opportunity Alliance. Today, more than 98 million adolescent girls around the world are not in school; the Girls Opportunity Alliance works with grassroots leaders and organizations around the world working to help and educate adolescent girls.” - Liza Butegwa
- “I will be supporting the Equal Justice Initiative which advocates for equal treatment in the justice system and works to assist marginalized communities that are faced with unequal treatment.” - Kayla Tuchman
- “I serve on the board of a local youth music education organization called Brooklyn Youth Music Project, which is dedicated to teaching and inspiring musicians of diverse backgrounds. I would love to see them get some extra support this year!” - Isabelle Jetté
- “The 19th is a nonprofit, nonpartisan newsroom reporting at the intersection of gender, politics and policy. Journalism is shaped by the editors and reporters that work on it, and for too long and especially in politics, that’s been men. The 19th is changing that. I’m proud to serve on the board and encourage you to support them as well!” - Susan McPherson
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