Season Of Giving

It’s hard to believe it that the holidays are already here! I’m not sure whether the months are getting shorter, or time is speeding up, but it seems like we were just in the middle of summer. As we head into the heart of the holidays, I’d like to pause and share my appreciation for all of you. The dynamics of our business are never dull, and this year has certainly been no different. You collectively manage to navigate the ups and downs with poise and grace, and I’m incredibly grateful for your resilience and your commitment to each other and to our clients.

I’m especially grateful for new opportunities this year. Part of the reason Alaris joined the Lexitas family was that I wanted to see our company (now our business unit) thrive in dynamic new ways, and I’m incredibly happy that this has indeed happened. Under our current structure, I’ve seen people I’ve worked with for years have an opportunity to be promoted, grow as leaders, and reach their full potential. I couldn’t be prouder or more gratified to see this happen over the last year, and I know even more great things are ahead.

Another reason I’m grateful to be part of Lexitas is the company’s strong sense of philanthropy and community outreach. This time of year certainly makes me grateful for my friends and family, but it also makes me grateful to have a chance to give back to my community. One of the things I look forward to most every year is the opportunity to partner with organizations and programs that make a meaningful, direct impact on people’s lives.

For the last 28 years, I’ve had a chance to work with many in the legal industry on the Motion for Kids project, which is to provide a holiday party for up to 2,500 St. Louis area children in the foster care system or kids whose lives have been severely impacted by the criminal justice system. The party is hosted by The Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis and the Saint Louis Bar Foundation, and this year Gary Buckland and Lexitas generously offered significant support to help us make the event a success.

For the last 20 years, I’ve also had an opportunity to work with Let’s Start – a program that tries to break the cycle of incarceration in families by working with incarcerated women and their children to support recovery and reentry. Every month, we provide packed lunches for children who are visiting their mothers who are presently incarcerated.

Each month, I also love participating in the First Fridays arts event in the Crossroads district in downtown Kansas City. On the first Friday of every month, various arts organizations, galleries, studios, and a wide variety of businesses in the Crossroads come together to feature local, regional, national, and international artists. During these events, our office opens its space to artists to display and sell their work in a gallery setting. The KC team does a tremendous job of showcasing our space and our artists.

From Motion for Kids to Let’s Start to First Fridays, I’m grateful to have an opportunity to weave service-minded traditions into the more familiar traditions I share with my friends and family during the holidays.

And as ever, I’m thankful to be working with such talented and dedicated people as you all year long. Thank you again for all you do for each other and for those we serve. However you celebrate, I hope you have a happy, peaceful, and restful time with the people you love as 2022 draws to a close. I look forward to working with you in the New Year!

After beginning her career as a court reporter with a degree from Brown’s Business College, Debbie purchased the firm she worked for in 1985. That firm continually grew and evolved into Alaris, providing litigation, trial, and mediation services. As Alaris transitioned to Lexitas, Debbie remains committed to the company and now operates as Lexitas' Vice President of Community Relations.

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