Would you critique my fundraising letter?

[FreemanSmith]

Could you take a look at this letter and let me know what you think? Thanks!

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She cried when he said, “Good-bye.”

If you had been sitting in our waiting room that day, you might have thought it was strange to see one of our receptionists wipe her eyes when a little 4-year-old boy said good-bye on his way out.

You might think, “It must be his last visit…”

What you would not know is that Joe has been coming every week for a year and a half to see a speech therapist.

I can still remember when he first came to us. He was labeled as autistic, and he did not speak. At best he grunted. He would not, could not, look someone in the eye or answer questions... let alone initiate a conversation.

Not even something as simple as saying ‘hello’ or ‘goodbye’.

November 11, 2007

Dear Friend,

The Christmas Holidays can be such a busy time. It is so easy to get caught up in shopping and planning events that we forget the true joys of the season are often the time we spend with our loved ones.

Just imagine what it would be like if you lost those loved ones this year. Not because they died, but because you suddenly could not hear them… or because they could not understand the things you were trying to say.

For many of our clients, the holidays are a time of isolation rather than togetherness.

But thanks to people like you, there are a few more residents of Loudoun County who are able to enjoy the holidays this year than there were last year.

When you think about giving this year, I hope you won’t forget the joy of seeing your children laugh and play, or of hearing a family member say, “I love you.”

I just want to say ‘thank you’ for all you have done for Blue Ridge Speech and Hearing Center. Thanks to you, there are a few more people who are able to enjoy these simple pleasures this year.

Have you ever stopped to think how important communication is in your life?

It allows you to be close to your friends and family, to enjoy the time you spend with them. And it is the key to success in school, or at work.

Our greatest hope for our clients is to help them to achieve this kind of success.
This is the time of year when many organizations send out letters asking for your help. I find myself wondering, and I’m sure you do to, where will my money go if I donate, and what difference will it make in the world if I do?

I’d like to know that my money is being well spent – on things that really matter… but who has the time to research every organization that asks for money?

That is why I’d like to take a few moments this year and let you know exactly what your dollars have done and can continue to do at Blue Ridge Speech and Hearing Center.

I’d like to share with you – just a couple of these inspirational stories – as my way of saying, “thank you” for your support and donations in the past.

Sara was self-conscious, like most teenagers. But unlike most teens, her lack of self-assurance came from a speech problem – stuttering.

Imagine being a teenager with a stutter.

She was afraid to answer questions in school, and she didn’t have a lot of friends.

One of my greatest joys, and one I want to share with you as much as possible in a letter, is watching a young woman like Sara blossom as she begins to gain control over her ability to communicate clearly.

She is more comfortable with others her age, and she’s able to answer those questions in class now. By the time she graduates high school, Sarah will have many more options available now that she has overcome this challenge. She will be able to go to college, or get a job where she talks to other people.

Have you ever considered how difficult it would be to find a job where you didn’t have to talk to people? For people who stutter or have other speech impediments, there are very few options in life.

Not all of our clients are young people though.

This year I watched as one of my mother’s friends began to lose her hearing.

It’s hard to admit at first. Some people may not even realize what’s happening. Things you used to enjoy may not seem like that much fun anymore.

And that generally leads to dropping out of activities… avoiding family events, or church meetings because you can’t fully hear what’s going on around you.

But when the day comes that you are ready to face your hearing loss, there is more bad news.

You may not realize this, but a hearing aid costs about $5000, and it is not covered by many insurance plans. At Blue Ridge Speech and Hearing Center our goal is to help all of Loudoun County residents with their communication needs – regardless of their financial situation.

And of course, there is Joe.

Joe was just a toddler when he first came to Blue Ridge Speech and Hearing Center. He could not speak. He just grunted.

He had been labeled as autistic, and was unable to interact with others. Only about 15% of autistics are ever able to join the workforce, or live independently. Many of the rest are trapped in institutions where they can receive 24-hour care.

As heartbreaking as it is to see a child like this, it’s even harder for their families.

Imagine having a child who does not respond to the sound of your voice, who can’t tell you they love you. Imagine how difficult it is for a parent with a child who cannot “behave in public”.

Joe has been working with a speech therapist for nearly two years now, and the results have been amazing! He is 4 years old and able to attend a special education pre-school… and already beginning to be integrated into the regular classroom.

It’s so hard to tell you how much this means.

Autistic children usually learn to speak by the time they are 9 or 10. But the years they miss, and the teasing they have to endure before this happens can scar their lives.

We have the brightest hope for little Joe though. And it’s because of people like you who have found it in their heart and pocket book to help us provide services to everyone in Loudon County, regardless of their ability to pay.

Your donations are helping seniors live a more rewarding life, school children fit in with their peers and succeed in school, and even a few children like Joe, who might have nothing to look forward to but being institutionalized. Thanks to you they can be contributing members of society instead. And thanks to you many of them are enjoying a happy Christmas season with their families and friends – some for the first time ever.

Please join me in reaching out to those Loudoun County residents who are isolated by a speech or hearing impairment, by sending a gift of $50 or $100, or whatever you can afford.

We often hear, and perhaps you have said, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”

At Blue Ridge Speech and Hearing Center that’s exactly what we do. With your help, we are able to give our clients the tools they need to take care of themselves in the years to come.

I know that the cost may seem high –

• $1000 for a program to help a hearing impaired child learn to read.
• $1200 --or more-- for speech therapy to reduce a stuttering problem or help an autistic child learn to communicate.
• $5000 for a hearing aid that's not covered by insurance!

But keep in mind that these are not on-going expenses. These are more permanent solutions to challenges that might otherwise cause a person to need ongoing support from the government, other charitable organizations, family or friends.

Please take a minute today, and send us whatever you can afford so that together we can continue to help children like Joe and Sara, or seniors like my mother’s friend to enjoy life more fully.

Appreciatively,

Barbara Simpson, ACSW, LCSW
President & CEO

P.S. If you would prefer to save a stamp –please visit our website at BRSH: 40 Years of Service to Loudoun and Surrounding Counties and donate online. Or, if you cannot afford to give as much as you’d like today, you may arrange a smaller monthly gift.

P.P.S. Blue Ridge Speech and hearing Center is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization; all your donations are tax deductible as allowed by law.