================================================ Subject: [Fwd: WAWOF NYFC Fund Update] From: "creed~tunes~fan" To: Date: Tue 9 Oct 2001 16:18:22 -0400 ================================================ Here is a copy of the update that came in a little while ago. -------- Original Message -------- Subject: WAWOF NYFC Fund Update Date: Tue, 09 Oct 2001 15:07:38 -0600 From: director@witharmswideopen.org To: Scott Stapp, the With Arms Wide Open Foundation Board members, and the Foundation’s staff would like to thank everyone who has so generously given to the Foundation’s New Yorkers for Children Fund. Donations from supporters are nearing the $13,000 mark. Combined with the Foundation’s $50,000 contribution, plus its matching donation, NYFC will receive at least $76,000 from the Foundation. While this is a considerable amount of money, we would, of course, like to raise donations from our supporters to $50,000, so that we may contribute at least $150,000 to NYFC. Every donation made to our NYFC fund--which will benefit children who have suffered the loss of a parent in the World Trade Center tragedy--is important. We are sincerely grateful for each and every donation we have received. We have experienced an outpouring of generosity from throughout the country--and even overseas--and it is clear that the Foundation’s, and Creed’s, supporters are widespread and many. I would like to take this opportunity to highlight some of our supporters who have been especially helpful with our collection: Shelia N. of Alto, GA, has made numerous generous contributions to the Foundation, and now to our NYFC collection. Shelia has been one of the Foundation’s most ardent supporters since its inception, and we are so thankful for her assistance. Shelia, you are a special person, and we are so glad to have you working with us to further the Foundation’s goals. Thank you on behalf of all of the children and families we are able to reach because of people like you. Stacy T. of Beloit, WI, has made multiple contributions to our NYFC fund as well as to the Foundation. Stacy writes: “I feel this is the only charity I can donate money to because I know it is being used for the children.” We promise not to let you down, Stacy. Ellen B. of Mishawaka, IN, has also made several contributions to the Foundation and our NYFC fund. Ellen’s most recent donation included funds from residents of South Bend/Mishawaka, who contributed to NYFC at Ellen’s restaurant where she works. Thank you, thank you to Ellen and the restaurant’s patrons. Your donations are much appreciated. Christina M. of Lewisville, TX, has arranged with her husband, who plays in a band, to put on a concert and donate the proceeds to NYFC via the Foundation. Christina recently went to NYC to assist families of the victims. She spent time counseling two teenage girls who were orphaned and now must live with other family members. Christina, thank you for all you’ve done to help these families, and NYFC. Kim A. of Parlin, NJ, has also been a Foundation supporter since the Foundation opened in October 2000. As many of you know, Kim recently arranged to raffle off her signed Creed director’s chair, with the proceeds to go to the Foundation. Kim has forwarded funds she has collected to the Foundation’s NYFC fund. Thank you to Kim and to all who are participating in the raffle. We are especially grateful to have the support of each and every one of these people. They give to the Foundation, and to NYFC, in their own ways, and each is equally important to the children we strive to reach out to and aid. One notable donation must also be mentioned--in the face of terrible pain and loss, one family from Townsend, MA, has donated their tax rebate check to the Foundation’ s NYFC fund. This family had a friend on flight 11, the first plane to crash into one of the WTC towers. The family writes: “My husband and I decided to give our tax rebate check to your Foundation. We feel there is a greater need for it in New York than here with us to spend.” Our hearts, and gratitude, go out to this family, who is continuing to reach out to help others although suffering their own grief and loss. Here is an update on what will be done with our NYFC fund: Claudia Fleming, the director of NYFC, has told the Foundation that she has been to New York City’s Family Resource Center, which has been set up near the Hudson River in NYC. This is the location that area families must go to to begin the process of having their loved one declared deceased, and to initiate benefits. Claudia has requested that counselors who meet with the families make known to them that our funds are available. Claudia mentioned as an example that a grandmother now caring for her orphaned grandchildren needs an apartment larger than her own one-bedroom in which to raise her grandchildren. Foundation NYFC funds can be made available in this, and other, situations, including orphaned children turned over to the care of the New York City Administration for Children’s Services. We are also working with NYFC to see that our funds can be used to expand NYFC’s mentoring program to recruit and supply mentors to children who have lost parents and now need this guidance. We are arranging for our funds to pay for youth athletic team participation, school supply and field trip fees, tutoring, counseling, and other areas so that these children may proceed in life as close to normal as possible. We are using our own experiences as parents to work in creative ways to ensure that, to the best of our abilities, no child is left behind in life because of this terrible event. To conclude, PLEASE keep those donations coming in, either via our website, www.witharmswideopen.org, or by mailing checks made out to NYFC to: WAWOF, NYFC Fund, PO Box 10230, Tallahassee, FL 32302. (Please note that NYFC is a 501(c)3 organization and their FEID number, needed for tax credit, is 13-3904537.) Please feel free to share this information with others. We do appreciate more than we can express your working with us to reach our $50,000 mark for matching donations. On behalf of Scott, Jeff, Rob, and Ken, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. With warm regards, Cynthia A. McNeely Executive Director To unsubscribe or change your preferences for the Creed-Discuss list, visit: http://www.winduplist.com/ls/discuss/form.asp