Generosity and Community

I am awaiting bookkeeping figures from our huge end-of-year Fundraiser that I got conned into Chairing for my sons school. I have survived the endless meetings, discussions, disagreements, planning, etc. We lived through the 3 plus weeks of ALL donations being piled up at my house. The event was last Saturday, and I have to say I am proud of both myself and the few (and I mean very few) other parents helped me accomplish. My husband, son and myself had one of the longest days of our collective lives that day. SO! Now, the final item to check-off my myriad lists:

The Thank You Letters!

Sheesh, you'd think I was writing a dissertation, but I can't seem to get it QUITE right. I have drafter approximately 11 versions. I have tried cheating off of last years version, but felt like I was being dishonest. SO! I am in the process of trying to come up with the proper words to thank over 175 businesses and individuals for their generosity. Lemme tell you it ain't easy.

How do you make people understand that what they donated will literally assure that MY SON (and 75 other children) will get the education they deserve. I may have mentioned before that my son attends a Public Charter School that uses the Montessori Method of Teaching. It's a small school in a community of 15,000 people. There are two schools down the street from my house that we could send our son, but short of sending him to a Private school? This was our best choice. We wanted him to go to a school that teaches about community, individuality, free-thinking. And public elementary schools were not going to do that.

In a small community, 175 people literally opened their pocketbooks and said, sure we would LOVE to support your son and your school, because it's part of OUR community. Many of those merchants send their children to public schools, but never once did anyone we asked bat an eyelash at our request.

Maybe that is what I need to emphasize in my Thank You Letter. Unselfishness DOES exist in our society. I just had to look to my neighbors to remember.

Maybe I also need to remember that I did this for my son, and one day he will be the community member asked to give of himself to help others. I hope that he will.