For the past five years, the Tuesday following Thanksgiving has been dubbed Giving Tuesday, as an antidote to the more grossly commercial Black Friday and Cyber Monday. While any day is a good day to give to organizations whose missions you believe in, Giving Tuesday acts as an encouragement and a reminder of the impact that can be made through the generosity of individuals and institutions. We wanted to take this opportunity to inform you about just a few of the organizations that Zevin supports, not only today but also throughout the year.

Grassroots International supports agricultural movements worldwide in places where poverty is severe and oppression is strong such as Haiti, Honduras, and Palestine. Its philosophy is that the people who live in these communities are best situated to enact solutions. Grassroots provides funding to support small farmers and producers, Indigenous Peoples, and women who are working on the ground on issues such as climate change, human rights, food sovereignty, resource rights, and sustainable livelihoods, as well as putting a focus on building movements and partnerships over the long term.

The Rosenberg Fund for Children was founded by Robert Meeropol whose parents, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, were executed as a result of one of the most shameful trials in American history at the height of McCarthyism, leaving him an orphan at age 6. The Rosenberg Fund exists to support children of progressive activists who have been targeted for their activities. Since its inception, the organization has benefited nearly a thousand children in the U.S. whose parents have been jailed or otherwise targeted for involvement in movements to defend the environment and human rights, wage peace, combat racism and homophobia, or organize on behalf of workers, immigrants, and incarcerated people.

Health Law Advocates assists and defends low-income Massachusetts residents who have trouble accessing needed medical care. Its lawyers provide pro bono representation to those who need it, especially those who may be at most risk due to age, gender, location, race, or disability. HLA also works with partner organization Health Care for All to use grassroots organizing and legal expertise to advance the statewide movement for universal care.

This year, Zevin employees also spent a day volunteering at local women’s shelter Rosie’s Place. The mission of Rosie’s Place is to provide a safe environment to help poor and homeless women seek opportunity, maintain their dignity, and find security. Our staff joined a lunch service, preparing and serving free meals for 150 women. Providing meals and shelter is only a fraction of the impact Rosie’s Place has for women in need. Their advocacy staff also assist guests with housing, educational and employment opportunities, clothing, care, and transportation needs.

As always, if you have any questions about the work we do here at Zevin (investment-related or philanthropic), please don't hesitate to contact us.