Dear friends and colleagues,
November 2012
Dear Members of the Vassar Community,
During this season of the presidential election, everywhere we’ve turned we’ve heard about the economy and the difficulties folks are having all around the country. In Dutchess County there is a handful of extraordinary organizations that reach out to persons in need; providing shelter for the homeless, feeding the hungry, mentoring youth, enlivening our local culture. For the past eleven years, Vassar’s Community Works campaign has offered financial support, through your generosity, that enables a variety of these organizations to continue their important work. On behalf of this year’s Community Works organizing committee, I ask for your generosity again so together we can continue to make a difference in our neighbors’ lives.
A contribution to the Community Works campaign is a direct connection to the organizations---unlike most other fundraising campaigns Vassar absorbs all the administrative costs of Community Works, and 100 percent of your donation will go directly to supporting local agencies.
Even a modest contribution to Community Works helps to support the good work of these organizations. At a time when government support has dwindled, our grants keep the doors open at some of the area’s smaller agencies. It’s also significant that through Community Works partnerships have really grown between Vassar and local agencies -- for example many that have received our grants are also sites for Field Work students, contributing directly to our educational program.
This year Vassar employees and students nominated dozens of agencies, and with some difficulty our committee selected the eleven agencies listed below. The selection includes a wide array of needs and services, some familiar, some new, and all known to reach the neediest of our neighbors. We ask for your generosity in supporting the work of these non-profit agencies, and through them, supporting those in need around us.
You can make your tax-deductible donation via payroll deduction, credit card, or check. [If you use payroll deduction your information must be received by Friday, December 14.] Simply return the attached form or log on to our website.
On behalf of the sponsored agencies and their clients, as well as the Community Works Campaign committee, I thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
John McCleary
Chair, 2013 Community Works Campaign
Professor of Mathematics
mccleary@vassar.edu
x5526