Silver Golub & Teitell has supported Filling in the Blanks since 2019 and was this year’s lead sponsor of our Unite to Fight 5K. We spoke with Peter Dreyer, a partner at the Stamford-based law firm to find out why Filling in the Blanks is so important to them.
How did Silver Golub & Teitell begin its relationship with Filling in the Blanks?
My wife and I first heard about Filling in the Blanks at my children’s school. Honestly, I was shocked to learn that about 50 percent of the kids in our elementary school were receiving free or reduced cost breakfast and lunch, and then sent home on weekends without any food security. Filling in the Blanks struck us as an amazingly simple and effective idea – it is literally filling in the gaps where meals were not available for these children. We decided we had to get involved.
The more we learned, the more we liked the organization. When I approached my partners at Silver Golub & Teitell in 2019 about becoming a sponsor, they all felt the same imperative and agreed immediately.
How does Silver Golub & Teitell connect with the mission to end childhood hunger? I see our missions as very similar. We both seek to improve the lives of disadvantaged individuals. Filling in the Blanks provides a basic need, food, to children who may otherwise go hungry. Silver Golub & Teitell provides legal services to individuals who may not have the financial resources to access them on their own. Our law firm also represents many clients who are badly injured or disabled with substantial medical needs and works hard to recover monetary compensation for our clients so they can get needed care and pay for theirs. Both Filling in the Blanks and Silver Golub & Teitell demonstrate a commitment to social justice and a desire to assist those who are most vulnerable in our society. We work towards the common goal of providing assistance and support to those in need.
Why is getting involved at a local level so important to Silver Golub & Teitell?
Filling in the Blanks operates right in our backyard—where we live and where we work. The idea that people, and especially children, suffer from food insecurity in 2023 is almost beyond comprehension. The fact that it happens in a wealthy part of Connecticut—sometimes referred to as “the Gold Coast”— is truly staggering.
What are some ways that your employees work together with Filling in the Blanks?
It is incredibly rewarding to be able to help fill backpacks with food to provide to children who do not have access to regular meals, ultimately improving their health, education, and overall well being. This year we were also delighted to have our employees participate in the Unite to Fight 5K—allowing us to connect to our community and support the mission further. Silver Golub & Teitell is very proud to support Filling in the Blanks and wish the organization every continued success.