Before I go back to the library, here's some more stuff I found in my email:



Dear Shannon,



Today, as we prepare to enter the holiday season in earnest, I’m writing to share some absolutely phenomenal news with you – news that gives new meaning to our motto at Modest Needs: ‘Small change: A World of Difference.’ As someone who I know supports the work we’re doing together at Modest Needs, this is going to make you very, very happy.



Earlier this month, I was invited to Los Angeles to meet with a well-known philanthropist who had recently discovered Modest Needs through the president of his own foundation. At the conclusion of an exceptional three hour meeting, this person – who has asked to remain anonymous for now – was so deeply moved by the kindness, compassion and community spirit of Modest Needs’ donors that he felt compelled to offer all of us a very special gift:



Beginning at midnight on 1 January 2006, this individual is going to personally match, dollar for dollar, every monthly pledge of any size that any person makes to Modest Needs – not just once, or twice, but every month for all of 2006!



This remarkable matching gift means that in 2006, your courageous generosity will have twice the power to change a life at Modest Needs. As of 1 January, a $5 monthly pledge at Modest Needs becomes worth $10 to a hard-working family struggling to make ends meet. A $10 monthly pledge becomes worth $20, and so forth (with no limit), up to a maximum of $25,000 matching dollars per month, all year long!



This is clearly incredible news to everyone who supports Modest Needs. But as much as I know this matching gift means to all of us, it will mean much more to the individuals and families who come to Modest Needs each month seeking the help they need to overcome a short-term crisis with dignity.



Over the past four years, Modest Needs has grown to the point that, with our ‘small change’ and ‘modest’ grants, we are now stopping the cycle of poverty for an average of one hard-working individual or family per day. All the same, as things currently stand, we often cannot reach persons whom we know both need and deserve our help – simply because we lack the funds to help them.



In 2006, if we can get this full match, we’ll have the power to help twice as many people next year as we were able to help in 2004 and 2005 combined. And because I know that all of us want to make the most of this remarkable opportunity, I’m writing to ask for your help with the most important project we’ve ever undertaken at Modest Needs.



I’ve just done the math, and as of today 12 December 2005, the total value of all monthly pledges to Modest Needs is just about $8500 a month. This means that as things currently stand, we’re going to be leaving enough money to help a minimum of 100 additional families every month – about $15,000 a month – just sitting on the table.



With so many people genuinely in need of our help every month, I don’t think any of us wants to see that happen. And that’s why I really need your help.



Normally, in Modest Needs’ Annual Appeal, I write to ask for a special one-time gift to carry us through the thin months of January, February and March. But one-time gifts aren’t covered by this matching gift, so even a generous one-time gift of, for example, $60 would be worth just its $60 face value.



However, that same gift - made as small monthly pledge of $5 - would be worth (after the match) twice its face value to the families who’ll come to us for help in 2006 – a whopping $120 next year! And that is truly what it means to leverage the power of our ‘small change’ to make a ‘world of difference’ to struggling individuals and families.



This holiday season, in lieu of a special one-time gift, I’m writing today to ask you if you would please help us take full advantage of this matching gift by making a small pledge of just $5 a month. That may not seem like much – it’s about $0.15 a day – but that small gift made today means that we’ll all be helping more people with ‘modest needs’ in 2006 than ever before.



Signing up for a monthly pledge at Modest Needs is quick, easy, and secure. All you have to do is go to https://www.modestneeds.org/donation/online, log in with your alias (Shannonw) and case-sensitive password (Mx94946), and make the pledge of your choice using our online form. Click ‘submit,’ and you’re done!



The whole process will take you less than two minutes. But with two minutes of your time, and genuinely ‘small change,’ you’ll be changing more lives at Modest Needs in 2006 than any of us would ever have thought would be possible.



From the bottom of my heart, thank you in advance for helping us to take full advantage of this remarkable matching gift. Especially now, and to the families who truly need our help to remain self-sufficient, your generosity means more than I could possibly express.



Here’s wishing you and your family a richly blessed holiday season. I look forward to hearing from you soon.



My very best,



Dr. Keith P. Taylor

President/Executive Director

Modest Needs Foundation

http://www.modestneeds.org

‘Small Change: A World of Difference’