Happy Holidays from all of us at Woods Aitken LLP. We wish you a joyous holiday season and wonderful New Year!
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Comfort & Joy
In 1921, Frank Woods, Sr., Thomas Woods, and William Aitken founded our law firm. Five years later, the partners hired Philip Aitken, brother of William Aitken, and paid him $50.00 per month, a decent wage for a fledgling lawyer at the time.
This fall and in reflection of Phil Aitken’s starting salary, $50.00 was given to each member of the Woods Aitken family with the simple and profound task of spreading a little extra comfort and joy to others.
The founders believed that serving the community was an obligation entailing more than the provision of outstanding legal services; it also entails active involvement and charitable contribution. This belief still holds true today. Every attorney and staff member at Woods Aitken is committed to making our communities better places to work, live, and raise a family.
Here are a few stories about our gifts:
Big Dogs Huge Paws
We adopted our newest (and biggest) addition, a Great Dane, from Big Dogs Huge Paws (BDHP). She was malnourished to the point of not being able to walk when BDHP stepped in, and now she’s super healthy and gets constant love and attention thanks to her placement with us by BDHP.
Brain Injury Alliance of Nebraska
My first association with the Brain Injury Alliance of Nebraska (BIA-NE) was through their work with my daughter. Following the weeks and months of hospitalization and rehabilitation from injuries she received in a car accident, BIA-NE contacted us to offer assistance and support for her as she learned to adjust to a new way of life. Their mission is literally “To create a better future for all Nebraskans through brain injury prevention, education, advocacy, and support.”
Breasties
I donated to the Breasties, which supports initiatives from Bobbie. Bobbie is an infant formula company that supports women who have survived or previved breast cancer that are incapable of breastfeeding their newborns. The initiative supports fed is best and recognizes the financial burden families are under who must purchase formula under these circumstances. This is obviously near and dear to me as a cancer survivor who relied upon other nutrition sources for my daughter.
Broomfield FISH
I donated to Broomfield FISH, a local food bank. My son used to be on the youth advisory board of FISH, and my kids and I have volunteered there many times.
Doctors Without Borders
I gave to Doctors Without Borders. They do phenomenal work, and the need is great in Gaza right now.
Family Resource Center Christmas Tree of Love
I chose to give my $50 to the Southwest Nebraska Family Resource Center (FRC) Christmas Tree of Love program. That specific program provides community members the opportunity to adopt families in need during the holiday season. I am on the FRC Board of Directors, and every year I am amazed at the number of families that we are able to help that might not otherwise be able to afford holiday gifts for their children. This year, myself, and several of my co-workers were able to adopt a family by purchasing clothes and toys for their children.
First Light Child Advocacy Center
I purchased fabric to make tie fleece blankets for First Light Child Advocacy Center. Blankets were on their current needs wish list. First Light is the central/south central child advocacy center serving ten counties in Nebraska. It is a place where children who have been victims or witnesses to traumatic events (crimes) can be interviewed in a way to minimize additional trauma and get connected to community resources such as follow up mental health or medical care. Several years ago, I served on their board of directors. It will always have a special place in my heart. I am hoping that these blankets do provide a sense of “comfort” to all who receive them after whatever event brought them to need the service. Thank you for the opportunity and encouragement to give back to those who need some comfort and joy in their lives!
Food Bank for the Heartland
I donated my $50 to the Food Bank for the Heartland. $50 = 150+ meals for our friends in need. Pretty phenomenal return on investment, in my humble opinion!
Gomez Art Supply to gift to Live Yes Studios
I will be spending my $50 to get a gift certificate (and some paint from my own funds, hope that’s not cheating!) from Gomez Art Supply to gift to Live Yes Studios. Live Yes Studios is an alternative day program for adults with developmental disabilities that engages its participants in visual and performing arts by providing classes and museum/gallery day trips. Live Yes also holds a First Friday each month to display individuals’ work. I tried to maximize the “good” I could do by supporting a local business, the Lincoln art community, and an amazing local nonprofit program. Plus, Gomez and Live Yes are our downtown neighbors too!
Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding Academy, Inc. (HERTA)
HERTA serves children and adults with disabilities such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, cystic fibrosis, brain tumors, head or spinal cord injuries, visual impairments, autism, developmental delays, and strokes. Therapists help inspire emotional, cognitive, social, and physical growth through interactive and engaging activities with horses. HERTA’s mission is to improve the quality of life both physically and emotionally of adults and children of all ability levels through equine-assisted activities.
HopeSpoke
HopeSpoke is a nonprofit organization that relies on donations and grants to perform its important work supporting Lincoln’s disadvantaged youth who struggle with behavioral and mental health issues. We know directly about the positive impacts their work has on the children and their families. Thank you to the Firm for allowing us the opportunity to provide some “comfort and joy” to the children HopeSpoke serves.
Lincoln Children’s Zoo
As a child, going to the zoo was something that I enjoyed and looked forward to every summer. As a parent, I see the same joy in my children. It is one of our favorite places to go and we make a trip nearly every weekend in the summer. Riding the train, feeding the giraffes, watching the penguins, and racing to feed the “paper eating lion,” etc., are moments that we cherish and look forward to as a family.
Lincoln Music Teachers Association’s Music Outreach Program
I donated to the Lincoln Music Teachers Association’s Music Outreach Program (LMTA). My Grandma taught piano for many years and has been a big part of the LMTA. The music outreach program financially assists students who would not otherwise be able to participate in music lessons. Music was a huge part of my childhood and I thank Woods Aitken for the opportunity to help others have similar experiences.
Marisol Homes
Marisol provides safe and secure shelter to single mothers (pregnant or with kids) in the Denver area. Marisol provides housing, food, career development, and educational services to moms in a family-like environment. Marisol also has spaces and programming for the children staying there so that it is a homey and welcoming place for them to be during otherwise difficult times.
Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach
Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach provides a wide variety of services to meet different levels of need and embolden people to have hope. This includes services to relieve hunger, defeat homelessness, address addiction, and outreach.
Moore Middle School
I am delivering donuts to Moore Middle School tomorrow morning. This is how I am using the $50 you gave me. Teaching has been my passion for more than half of my life. Teachers need constant pick-me-ups to survive. I thought this small gesture might encourage teachers and let them know that there are a lot of people rooting for them out there.
Northern Plains Boxer Rescue
If you’ve ever owned a Boxer, you know that they are a high-energy and very intelligent breed of dog. They are very curious and require obedience training to keep their curiosity satisfied and intelligence challenged. Owners unable to provide this level of attention to the Boxer quickly find out how mischievous they can be. This is one reason the breed is not suitable for a lot of homes and finds its way to rescues. This nonprofit organization of volunteers makes every effort to educate the public about the Boxer breed and find forever homes for the adoptable dogs.
Project Pink’d, Inc.
This organization focuses on helping to ease the financial burden for women actively going through breast cancer treatment in Nebraska and Western Iowa. This may mean providing gas money to women who need to travel for treatment, paying a rent or mortgage expense while the survivor is out of work, or paying for the prescription drugs associated with care. As a breast cancer survivor with multiple family members who have also faced the disease, I know that the work Project Pink’d does in Nebraska and Iowa is invaluable.
Scatter Joy Acres
Scatter Joy Acres was founded by Joy Bartling to provide a new home, new life, and new meaning by rescuing abused or neglected animals. Bartling’s first loves were the animals who became her closest childhood friends and confidants when she felt she had no one else to turn to during a painful part of her journey to adulthood. Understanding that there are often deep pains in life and the many times that human beings were not able to touch them, she realized she was not alone in that aspect. At the ranch, the animals serve as an integral part of the ongoing mission of providing therapeutic interaction for developmentally disabled and autistic children, seniors, veterans, and at-risk children. Many of us, like Joy, have found comfort, solace, peace and even joy in the company of animals.
Shrine Hospital Patients
I have chosen to use the money for Christmas gifts to Shrine Hospital patients sponsored by the Sesostris Shrine, which I served as Potentate in 2021. Every year the Shrine has a Christmas party for the Shrine hospital patients we sponsor and the Shriners give Christmas gifts to the Shrine Hospital patients who are able to attend. The money will buy gifts that will bring comfort and joy to Shrine hospital patients who inspire me with all they have gone through and continue to deal with on a daily basis.
Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha
I gave the $50 to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul for their annual winter coat and accessories (hats and gloves) drive and giveaway. Last year they gave away over 2,000 winter coats and this year the goal is 3,000.