For Teresa and RJ Devick, giving has never been an abstract idea. It has been a way of living – woven into their marriage, their work, and their family. “The one thing RJ and I have always had in common – sometimes the only thing,” Teresa laughed, “is that our values are based on sharing what we have and helping others. We’ve been very blessed in life, and this is how we give back.”
With daughters from South Korea and Ethiopia, they see the world as “just one big place,” as Teresa put it. Helping people wherever they are feels natural. And after their youngest daughter’s early struggles with malnutrition, food insecurity became especially personal. “As human beings we all want the same things: safety, food, peace, and joy,” Teresa explained. “This is something that shouldn’t get lost.”
“There’s Always Joy”
Their journey with Alight began decades ago, when an earthquake struck Iran. The local newspaper urged people to give through organizations already on the ground – and Alight was there. “That’s how we got connected,” Teresa recalled. “And we’ve been with Alight ever since.”
What kept them committed was Alight’s approach: “We love Alight because of the way they help people where they are,” Teresa explained. “They don’t just throw money at the situation hoping that it’s going to fix it. They get in there, they hire local people, and they help make displaced people’s lives better – and hopefully give them an opportunity to thrive, to experience joy – even in a difficult situation they are facing right now.”
RJ agreed. “There’s always joy,” he said. “There always seems to be an element of joy to whatever Alight does, which I find incredible given the challenges with which they work.”
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