Dear Members of the Vassar Community,
On behalf of my fellow committee members, I write to solicit your support for this year's Community Works Campaign. Since 2001, Vassar's Community Works Campaign has raised donations from faculty, staff, students, and administrators to support non-profit agencies working in our community.
Every year we try to improve the way Community Works works. This year, we decided to experiment with a shorter campaign. By beginning on November 1 and running until December 15, we hope to reward everyone, especially those who donate early! We also resolved this year to return to Community Works’ initial intention of selecting just 10 agencies for each annual campaign. Though the task of deciding among the many great nonprofit organizations in our local community has always been difficult, my fellow committee members and I felt that a shorter roster would enable Community Works to better support the vital work of each recipient.
Nevertheless, this year’s list of recipients still represents a broad spectrum of needs and services in our area. Several, such as Dutchess Outreach, Battered Women’s Services, and River Haven of Hudson River Housing, are long-standing organizations that provide hot meals, a safe place for homeless youth, or help for women trying to leave abusive situations. We are proud to support these essential services for the neediest among us. Others, such as the Sadie Peterson African Roots Library and Sustainable Hudson Valley, are small, recently formed organizations operating on shoestring budgets. For these agencies, Community Works’ support this year is critical to both their immediate and long-term success.
As in past years, together our recipient agencies serve diverse populations in our local community, including African Americans, children, homeless teens, immigrants, gay, lesbian and transgender youths, Latinos and Hispanic Americans, persons with physical and developmental disabilities, and women—as well as the long-term environmental health of the entire region. And since all the agencies are based locally, our funding goes directly to helping people living in Dutchess and Ulster Counties.
We hope that you will make a generous donation to support the hard work being done on behalf of our neighbors in need. All employees can make a donation through payroll deduction or via credit card by visiting our website: http://communityworks.vassar.edu. Of course, payroll deduction forms and checks can also be sent to Community Works, Box 9.
As always, Vassar absorbs all administrative costs, meaning that 100% of your donation will go directly to supporting local agencies.
On behalf of the sponsored agencies, their clients, and the other members of the Community Works Campaign committee, I thank you for your support.
Jeffrey Schneider
Director, Community Works Campaign for 2008