In Honor of Alex Pretti

It’s been extremely difficult to find the words to say about a situation so tragic, senseless, and heartbreaking. As a community, I think many of us are feeling paralyzed by grief and hopelessness, unsure of what to do or whether anything we do will even make a difference.

In moments like this, I find myself looking at the life Alex lived. He was the rare embodiment of everything a healthcare worker should be. He possessed a compassion that guided his career at the Veterans Affairs hospital and a heroism that led him to protect the most vulnerable in his community outside of work.

Through his character, he was also the epitome of an American, at least the version that led my family to proudly place an American flag sticker on our family van when I was a child. To me, an American is the personified form of this country’s values: someone who protects, welcomes, and makes a broken stranger feel seen and safe. This safety is what allowed families like mine, who escaped the war in Vietnam, to build a life here and be the best versions of themselves for their families and their neighbors.

Alex was that person for so many. Because I want to honor the spirit of that commitment, I am dedicating the month of February to giving back.

From today through the end of February, 5%of all proceeds will be donated to the IDP

Immigrant Defense Project: A nonprofit providing the legal advocacy and defense needed to fight the unfair criminalization and deportation of our neighbors.

Alex’s sense of duty didn’t end when he left the hospital; he brought that same care and protection into the community he lived in. I hope that by supporting these organizations, we can carry a piece of that legacy forward together.

Donations are calculated based on the paid item price, excluding shipping costs and taxes and refunded/returned merchandise.