The holiday season began in full force Friday morning with a hearty breakfast followed by our rather competitive white elephant gift exchange. Amid some gamesmanship and a ton of laughs, the most sought after gifts ended up being a foot massager, custom Merritt Group T-Shirt, and fuzzy blanket.

The holiday cheer continued into the evening at the annual Merritt Group Holiday Party. Ping Pong Dim Sum, in Dupont Circle, played host to a wonderful evening that included tea readings, delectable morsels, a 2014 year-in-review video reel, and a touching speech by founder Ben Merritt.

Today marks the beginning of our Merry Week of Giving (December 8-12). This year, Merritt Group has chosen to support two locations in the DMV and one in the Bay Area with our time and donations. Check back next week to read a full recap of our volunteer efforts.