B&C Adopt-a-Family Program: Making a Difference in 2021
The holiday season is upon us – a festive time that many of us look forward to throughout the year. Whatever traditions your family honors, we hope that they may bring loved ones together in celebration.
Unfortunately, this can be a very stressful time of the year for some families. Chaotic work and travel schedules, along with the pressures of gift-giving, can make the holidays challenging to enjoy. This is especially true for many of our clients, who often find themselves midway through the claims process, dealing with physical pain and financial hardship.
Brown and Crouppen is committed to going above and beyond for clients which sometimes, means finding ways to make them whole again during times of need. The holidays have always presented us with unique opportunities to do just that. Since our founding in 1979, our firm has hosted a wide variety of holiday programs, from volunteer events to charitable donations. But one of our most cherished programs has been our B&C Adopt-a-Family program.
Each year, we ask our legal staff to refer client families to adopt and help make their holidays extra special. In some cases, clients are forced to make difficult sacrifices due to an accident, and in some instances, this eliminates holiday buying. We specifically look for families with young children who may not yet understand the nature of such sacrifices. Once we’ve chosen our families, we’re able to get started.
A few months before the holidays, we begin communicating with the head of the family, inquiring about their holiday “Wish List”; the items they might have otherwise planned to buy (gifts, food, decorations, etc.). The Wish List is an essential step because holiday traditions are unique from family to family. Some families exchange gifts, while others share experiences. Our goal is to help the clients celebrate THEIR way. We even pay special care to ensure no family member is left out to best spread the joy. We would make purchases, wrap presents, and personally deliver them to each family in the past. In more recent years, the safety of our clients and staff has become our biggest priority.
The last two years have required minor adjustments to the program, such as no-contact gift delivery, made easier with flexible delivery options. After delivery, we remain connected with adopted families to ensure their plans come together as planned.
Our adopted families are equipped with gifts well before the holiday if everything has gone as expected. We’re always excited to receive photos of them opening presents on Christmas morning, sharing dinners, or simply spending quality time. This, after all, is what the holidays are all about – sharing gratitude for the beautiful people in our lives. We take pride in knowing that, entirely separate from their legal claims, Brown and Crouppen can positively impact the lives of our clients. We only wish that we could offer similar assistance to all of them. We very much miss meeting with these families and sharing the holiday joy in person and hope that we can safely do so in the coming years.
Looking for a way to help make someone’s holiday special? It’s not too late! Listed below are a few ways to help others in our local community:
- St. Louis Children’s Hospital Wish List Drive – Online/In-person drive for the patients at St. Louis Children’s Hospital
- Project ARK Holiday Gold for Kids Drive – Gift drive that serves over 700 children each year who are infected or affected by HIV/AIDS
- Haven House Holiday Giving Program – Donate items for patients & families of Haven House, a full-service patient support facility
- Stray Rescue In-Kind Donations – Donate items to St. Louis’ leading “no-kill” animal shelter during one of their most difficult seasons
Graham Roper is Brown & Crouppen’s Director of Client Experience. He has spent nearly 15 years in the customer service field, the last 7 of which in service to the firm. A graduate of the University of Missouri-St. Louis, Graham’s studies in Business Management and Marketing have been a primary influence on his pragmatic approach to client-facing matters. His expertise, in conjunction with Brown & Crouppen industry-leading commitment to Client Experience, helps to position the firm as a leader in the personal injury space.