Page 38 - AAA Every Day – AAA Hudson Valley – November/December 2019

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
The Season
for Giving
Admittedly, winter is the season I look forward to the least. I don’t really like the cold, and driving on snow and ice has never been my favorite. I do, however, love the cheer that spreads throughout the community during the holidays. As soon as Nov. 1 hits, my heart warms up about 20 degrees. Songs of winter wonderlands with magical sleigh rides and snowmen are blasted throughout my house, my car and my office. So, what is it about this time of year that brings people together the way it does?
From Thanksgiving through the New Year, the message is clear: thanks, joy, kindness and, of course, giving. One of the most beloved stories of all time is “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens. This classic novel tells the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, a penny pinching older man who
is visited by the ghost of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come. Afterward, Scrooge becomes of the most loving and generous philanthropists in his village. In fact, the term “Scrooge” is now a word we use in everyday language to describe someone who acts like a miser. One of the reasons I love this story so much (in every depiction including The Muppets) is the lesson it teaches of being thoughtful and compassionate to all those around you, no matter who they may be.
Giving is an essential part of what we do at AAA Hudson Valley, and being a part of the team that makes this happen is one of the things that makes my
Photo: Shutterstock, Rawpixel.com
job so fulfilling. Giving back to the community is vital
for a membership organization like AAA, and making
an impact on those around us is both humbling and rewarding. Our committee raises funds for local organizations throughout the whole year, not just during the winter holidays. Earlier this year, with the help of some generous donations from several of our local
AAA Discounts & Rewards partners, our staff was able to raise enough money to support five kids for the summer program at the South End Children’s Café in Albany. We also participated in an Adopt a Pet event with the Mohawk-Hudson Humane Society, for which we collected both money and pet food to help support the organization’s high demand for food and shelter. Our furry friends need help sometimes, too!
This holiday season, we ask for your help. Every year as part of our fundraising efforts, we donate a portion of the membership dues to the organization of our choice. This year we have selected Equinox. Five dollars from every new gift membership purchased with the promo code GIFT19 will go to help those who need it most. Find out more about our holiday drive at AAA.com/Giving.
Happy Holidays and thanks for being a member!
Emily Gnacik is the Editor of AAA Every Day Magazine.
30 I NOV/DEC 2019