Dear Friends,
Did you receive the letter I sent last month? I wrote about an extremely generous offer from a long-time Marist Brothers’ benefactor.
This kind person, who wishes to remain anonymous, extended a remarkable challenge to every Marist Brothers’ friend! If you, along with all our benefactors, send a total of $10,000 in gifts to support our elderly and disabled Brothers’ care, our friend will match the full $10,000. That means we’ll have $20,000 – but only if we meet the challenge!
Many of our devoted friends sent a gift, and whether they sent $15, $20, or more – we are so grateful for their kindness. But in the end, we fell short of our goal. I’m sending a gentle reminder to let you know that there’s still a little time left to meet this exciting challenge. If you already sent a gift, thank you! If you can possibly share an additional gift to help us meet the challenge, we will be very thankful.
Remember, whatever you can afford to share will double in value!
Perhaps if I explain the story behind this extraordinary offer you’ll understand how powerful your support is…twice as powerful as you think!
Our challenge sponsor presented the idea after hearing about a drop in donations to support our elderly Brothers. In fact, gifts are down by about 10 percent when compared to this time last year. It puts us in a tough situation as we move toward the end of the year!
Sometimes it helps to imagine exactly how much your gift will matter, so here’s an example. In one of our larger Marist retirement facilities we have a nurse’s aide who watches over our elderly and disabled Brothers. She makes sure that our more forgetful Brothers take their medications on time. She helps less agile Brothers through their doctor-prescribed daily exercises. And if a Brother falls ill, she’s there with a cheerful, caring smile – and perhaps a bowl of nourishing soup.
This is what your gift today will help support…plus so much more!
I am so sure that you will send a gift today – and help us meet our challenge – that I’m sending you a token of my deep appreciation. It’s a special prayer card that honors October as the Month of the Rosary. Every Marist Brother joins me in hoping that you will pray the Rosary each day along with our Brothers.
You’ll also see one nickel traveling with this letter. It’s a reminder that we’re working toward something very important – one gift at a time.
Every Marist Brother also looks forward to thanking God for your kindness and including your prayer intentions during our daily prayers in Chapel. So, please…take a moment to write your intentions on the enclosed response slip and send it back to me along with your gift.
In closing, I thank you for your continued support. As fall begins to unfold, every Marist Brother wishes you days filled with the season’s most beautiful colors – right outside your window.
