Charity Thank You Letters

Check presentation to White Ribbon Campaign
on Wednesday November 25, 1998.


(L to R) Jon Cassar, Richard Barry and Nigel Bennett

December 6, 1998

Mr. Nigel Bennett and Mr. Jon Cassar, Co-Chairmen,
The Motion Picture Industry Charitable Alliance,
P.O. Box 1284,
Springfield, Ohio 45501-1284

Dear Nigel and Jon,
One of the greatest pleasures we have at the White Ribbon Campaign is acknowledging the generous support of donors like you. And we can honestly say that your recent gift of November 10, 1998 in the amount of $20,000 resulting from your very successful charity auction is truly appreciated by all of us at White Ribbon. You'll be pleased to know that we are featuring the photo we took of your cheque presentation and a write up about the auction weekend in our Winter 1999 issue of our international newsletter "Speak Out". It has a circulation of over 10,000 copies in Canada, the U.S. and other countries around the world. We will save several copies for you once they are published. We also want to talk to you both about using the occasion of one of our larger special events in 1999 as an opportunity to recognize your generosity and your very special "Platinum Partner" status as a permanent supporter of our organized campaign to end men's violence against women. We'll contact you in the New Year once we have picked the best event and date in the hopes that it will fit into your very busy production schedules.

We've just been reviewing a Statistics Canada Survey studying family violence in Canada. According to a 1998 survey shelters for abused women and their children increased from 280 in 1989 to 550 in 1998. On average, more than 85,000 women and children are being admitted every year. At White Ribbon we believe that as men one way we can affect a reduction in men's violence against women is through prevention education directed at male high school students at a time when they are beginning to develop relationships with young women. Our highly regarded "Education and Action Kits" are increasingly being ordered by teachers, educators and school boards throughout Canada and the United States. To date over 3,000 high schools throughout North America are using our kits in their classrooms.

Our "Campaign Kits" ordered by companies, municipalities, trade unions and scores of other workplace environments topped the 1,500 mark this year. You see, your gift is helping us to encourage an increasing number of boys and men to never commit, condone or remain silent about violence against girls and women. As our membership continues to grow so does the positive encouragement we receive from organizations like the Canadian Women's Foundation and the women's shelters and rape crisis centers throughout Canada we support with many of our fund raising events each year. The fact is if we are to ultimately succeed in our mission to eventually put an end to the abuse of women it will be due in large part to your membership support of our work and those who work with us.

We and the entire Board of Directors sincerely hope that you will consider helping us again in 1999. That year will mark the 10'h Annual Remembrance of the Montreal Massacre and we are planning many important events to mark next year as our greatest effort yet to bring about an end to men's violence against women and provide increased support to women's groups and shelters. We are also planning many new projects which, among other things, may include the development of some educational/outreach video productions to be distributed throughout Canada and the U.S. Perhaps you might wish to help us as expert volunteers with some of these exciting ventures once we have secured sufficient corporate sponsorship to underwrite the production costs.

In the meantime, please accept our sincere thanks. We look forward to working with the Auction Committee again in 1999.

Thanks to you we are making a difference!

Sincerely,

Richard Barry
Executive Director

Patrick Thompson
Manager of Fund Raising

************************************************************

November 13, 1998

Motion Picture Industry Charitable Alliance
PO Box 1284
Springfield, Ohio 45501-1284

We received the donation check from the Motion Picture Industry Charitable Alliance today. Thank you so much for your support and generosity. As you know, Covenant House New York relies on private donations to fund the services for over 10,000 youth per year that come to us in need. As we approach the holiday and winter season, we prepare for the most difficult time for our kids. The weather outside makes it even more dangerous for youth to be homeless and without proper clothing or shelter. During the holiday season, the world focuses on family and joyous occasions. For young people with no family, this can be a terribly painful time. Donations like yours make it possible for Covenant House to provide a warm, safe and loving atmosphere for the young people who will come to us in the next few months.

It was a pleasure working with you on this project. We cannot thank you enough for your
incredible generosity.

Please stay in touch and let me know if you are ever in the New York area. You can come by for a visit and see just how far your donation is going.

Sincerely,

Ellen O'Connell
Director/Treasurer
Covenant House New York

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