It’s that time of year again – which means the lights are up, the stores are packed, and people are getting into the spirit of giving. It also means that our office is starting to receive a never ending stream of artery-clogging chocolate covered this and that, blocks of cheese, smoked salmon, baklava, nuts of every shape and size… and did we mention chocolate? This was the scene in our office earlier this week.
Photo Courtesy: geekologie
Don’t get us wrong – we appreciate the gesture, and (besides Attain CEO Jeff Malec) we like chocolate in all its forms. But, we’re talking about a chocolate arms race here – chocolate bars, chocolate pretzels, chocolate popcorn, hot chocolate, chocolate containers to hold more chocolate. I’m surprised nobody’s thought of a chocolate balloon filled with chocolate scented air yet…
It’s a nice gesture, if you’re trying to kill us. Talk about death by chocolate. The total fat calories would be more than Winton’s AUM.
Now, we don’t want to be a Scrooge here (although if we have to be – our preference is Donald Duck’s Uncle Scrooge). But if you can’t blog about your dislike for chocolate holiday gifts and beg those who are nice enough to send gifts to opt for something else… well, then what’s the point of having a blog?
If you are one of those kind souls looking to send a holiday gift to Attain, here’s our official plea to do something more constructive than the $300 Harry and David basket containing 80% packaging and 20% food (90% of that chocolate covered).
Need some ideas? How about these:
- Help kids with cancer instead of increasing our waistlines with a donation to One Step Camp (Attain investor relations manager Lauren Berliner is involved with the charity donating her time as a camp counselor).
- Camp Kesem – Help children attend a camp who have a parent who has died from cancer, is currently in treatment for cancer, or is in remission from cancer.
- Friends of the Chicago River — The mission of Friends of the Chicago River is to improve and protect the Chicago River system for people, plants, and animals. Today our work also includes policy initiatives geared towards improving the water quality of the river so that it can support native plants, fish and other wildlife, and a variety of recreational uses. (Donate)
- Miseracordia — is home to over 600 children and adults with developmental and physical disabilities. Misericordia offers a community of care that maximizes potential for persons with mild to profound developmental disabilities, many of whom are also physically challenged. By serving society’s most vulnerable citizens, Misericordia also serves the families who want the best for them, yet cannot provide it at home.
- Some of our team are also involved with Sky Foundation, a pancreatic cancer foundation.
- Speaking of kids – the Hedge Funds Care cause is preventing and treating child abuse. For all you managers out there, they’ll let CTA managers care also.
- Give money to the Commodity Customer Coalition, a 501(c)(4) non-profit who has been fighting the big banks and others in getting money back for MF Global and PFG customers.
- Pick your own cause: Just Give.
Happy Holidays.