Starting when she was 9, Claire Gaudiani’s father impressed upon her the importance of being informed. At dinner they would discuss current events.
Her five younger siblings listened, and would join in as they got older. During each holiday season, the discussion included an article about The New York Times Neediest Cases Fund.
“For me, the 100 Neediest Cases was my first education on how to be a citizen in a democracy,” said Ms. Gaudiani, now 63, at her home on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. “It was to be responsible for people that weren’t doing well.”