November 3, 2004

Dear Friends:

You have seen the posters around the College campus that say, in bold letters, “Give Till It Helps.” We at the College want everyone to be able to say “I gave at the office!” by making a gift to the Queens College/CUNY Campaign for Charitable Giving.

Please take a moment to look through the booklet you have received. You’ll see a list of many different charitable and advocacy organizations. Very likely, at least one or more of these organizations has already touched the lives of your family or close friends. All of these wonderful programs provide for a wide range of needs – helping care for abused children, for children with leukemia or for adults with Lou Gehrig’s disease, and for people of all ages who have been damaged or left homeless by the ravages of war, poverty, or natural catastrophes, like the recent hurricanes. Among the programs is one very close to home, the Queens College Foundation, which has provided and will continue to provide many scholarships to our wonderful students and to fund other important needs. Please know that if you give to the Queens College Foundation, you can earmark your gift to your academic department, program or unit.

Here is the challenge: we know that Queens College is at the top among our sister City University colleges in the quality and commitment to excellence of its faculty, staff and students. Last year, we exceeded our goal, raising just under $22,000 for the Charitable Campaign. However, our rate of giving is still below all but one college in CUNY. I know we are people of compassion and that we can do much, much better. I urge you to make a gift to the charity or charities of your choice through a continuous payroll deduction, or through a one-time donation, on the enclosed Pledge Form. The Campaign begins on November 15 and ends on December 10.

Everyone who contributes is eligible for the CUNY Campaign Sweepstakes, so please be sure to complete the Sweepstakes Entry Form at the bottom of the page. Anyone who donates a minimum of $5.00 per pay period or makes a one-time donation of $130.00 or more by December 3 is eligible to win airfare and hotel accommodations for two for 3 nights in Las Vegas, or a DVD player. Everyone in the Queens College community who participates by making a gift in any amount is eligible to win special gifts in our own College raffle. Please send your completed Pledge Forms to your Charitable Campaign Captain (listed below) or to me in Kiely 805.

* Please give or mail pledge forms to Ms. Marie Rafanelli, Office of the Dean, Division of Social Sciences, in Powdermaker 335.

Friends, thank you in advance for your donation to the Charitable Campaign.

With warmest regards,