New Year’s Greetings Dear Friends,
It’s that time of year! Time to meet with the accountant and review our 2020 budget to provide care for our elderly and disabled Brothers. Before the meeting began, however, our accountant delivered a warning: “Brother, you’d better sit down before you fall down.”
Our 2020 budget is short by $64,348.
We spent weeks working on this budget, squeezing numbers until everything appeared to balance out. We believed that our final draft gave us enough to ensure our Brothers a modest, yet dignified and comfortable, quality of life in 2020. Or so we thought!
According to our accountant, balancing the budget meant more cuts. But cut what? We were already down to essentials. And remember, this budget must support multiple Marist Brothers’ retirement facilities as well as the individual needs of more than 70 elderly and disabled Brothers – each of whom need some level of skilled care.
Can we count on your generosity to help close the $64,348 gap in our 2020 budget?
Whether you can afford to share $15, $25, or more, every donation matters. Every gift makes a difference! Together we can protect the quality of care we all want for our elderly Brothers.
We are blessed to have more Brothers than ever living a longer life. Although, with that blessing comes increased healthcare costs. Often, medical expenses address serious, chronic illnesses, such as cancer, diabetes, or dementia. We also need a budget for the Brothers’ healthcare workers, medical supplies, and physical therapy to strengthen our Brothers.
We tightened our belt as much as we can and we’re still feeling the squeeze. Your gift will be such a blessing.
Monthly bills to keep our retirement facilities comfortable keep rising, too. Every year routine building maintenance, utilities, and food costs go up and up.
Caring for family comes with joyous moments along with challenges. For us, right now, “un-squeezing” our 2020 budget and closing the $64,348 shortfall is one of those challenges. We are determined to do our very best to preserve our elderly and disabled Brothers’ welfare. We hope you agree and will show your support with a gift.
And please remember – any gift you can afford to share will be a blessing. Your help, in any amount, is significant. That’s why I put a nickel in this letter. It’s a reminder to return the nickel along with whatever you are able to share. Gifts will quickly add up – putting us closer and closer to a balanced 2020 budget without cutting a single essential item.
As this new year begins, every Marist Brother looks forward to including your special intentions during their daily prayers in Chapel. It is their gift of friendship and gratitude to you for your continued help and support. So, please list your prayer intentions on the enclosed reply slip and send it back to us along with your gift.
I look forward to hearing from you, and I am praying that you will answer my call for help as generously as you can.
