Seventeen years ago, I was thinking about the importance of the special people in my life, and realized the significant role of women on my path in life. My sister, my colleagues, my business associates, my friends, my mentors, the women whose light led the way to my achievements. 

It was just around the time that we celebrate Hanukkah, the miracle of lights.  A tradition for the holiday includes lighting candles of course, but also preparing and eating delicious potato pancakes a.k.a. Latkes.  And so, the tradition began, 10 women gather once a year for Latkes, laughter, and love.  The Latke Ladies share the news of the year that was, and the year ahead.  

After Hurricane Maria, our dear friends in Puerto Rico became a focus of our attention and concern.  The Latke Ladies became the Latke Ladies Luminaires.  Instead of Latkes for lunch, we decided to raise funds for solar lights.  No big hurrah, just some concerned loving people, putting resources in the right places.  The following year, we raised funds to build a roof and support a trail breaking apprentice carpentry program in Orocovis.  And, this year, we are continuing the renewal journey with the Giving Tree Program, the celebration of rebirth and reforestation with Para La Naturaleza.  Our goal is to raise funds to plant 100 trees in the designated conservation area in Ponce. 

The lesson we learned was to find a reliable non profit and be assured  that our efforts were going where intended, not elsewhere. And so, here we are, celebrating the New Year of Trees with the Latke Ladies Luminaires Giving Tree project.  

All you need is a light bulb of an idea, add some passion, commitment and determination.  Good deeds don’t need to become a chandelier, just a bright idea can light the way.

Thank you for your donation.

Shari Clayman-Kerr