Thank yous - Part II

As I mentioned in a previous post, LIFT honored Volunteers and Donors of Distinction at a luncheon on Friday February 27th at the Prestonwood Country Club. LIFT and all other non profits could not exist without our donors. I like to say non profits are like Blanche Dubois - we rely upon the kindness of others. Philanthrophy is pretty amazing when you think about it - people giving their hard earned dollars to help people they don't even know. Wow.

In light of that, let me share remarks and thanks from LIFT Executive Director, Sonyia Hartwell, about our Donors of Distinction. Without them, LIFT would not be here.

Junior League of Dallas - For the past several years, the Junior League of Dallas has partnered with LIFT to not only fund some programming but also to place volunteers in classroom and special event positions. Many of these women remain at LIFT long after they have fulfilled the Junior League of Dallas volunteer commitment and remain as literacy volunteers because of their personal dedication. Junior League has a long history of fostering that spirit of volunteerism and community among its members.

Half Price Books - Known for their support of literacy causes and their promotion of reading, Half Price Books has a long history of support for LIFT and its events and programs. As a premier sponsor of the annual Champions of Literacy Luncheon and Adult Spelling Bee, Half Price Books provides much needed funds to purchase books for adult learners. Support from Half Price Books comes in other tangible and intangible ways. Each year they donate boxes of books to the family literacy program and dozens of gift cards for raffle and door prize packages. For the past six years, Mark Wren from the staff of Half Price Books has been on the LIFT board of directors. Since 2007, Mark has worked tirelessly and with impassioned commitment as the president of that body.

The Vance C. Miller Family - For as long as anyone at LIFT can remember, the Vance Miller family has been associated with supporting literacy and LIFT in particular. Geraldine, "Tincy" Miller serves on the state board of education and is a past member and board president of LIFT. Every year Vance and his sons host their friends and colleagues in a charity golf tournament honoring the late Vance Miller, Jr. that benefits LIFT to the tune of five figures annually. Their company, The Henry S. Miller Company, regularly sponsors the Champions of Literacy luncheon. Greg Miller serves on the LIFT board of directors.

CITIgroup Foundation and CitiCards - Most recently, CITI acted as the title sponsor for the 2008 Champions of Literacy Luncheon. Citi's Foundation adds to that considerable financial commitment by funding programs independent of any event.

Verizon and Verizon Foundation - Known internationally for their support of literacy programs and literacy advocacy organizations, Verizon has been one of LIFT's most steadfast supporters. In 2008, the foundation funded more than 2,500 books for LIFT's ESL program and sponsored the much needed redesign of LIFT's website. Mid year, Verizon Read surprised LIFT with a gift of more than $27,000 in direct contributions from their customers bills. Their lifetime support of LIFT is in excess of half a million dollars.

David M. Crowley Foundation - Before his passing in August 2003, Mr. David M. Crowley, a successful Dallas investor was made an advocate of adult literacy and a volunteer teachers at LIFT. During his lifetime, he and his wife Mary made generous gifts to LIFT annually. With the formation of the David M. Crowley Foundation, came an even more generous unrestricted annual grant that has been of immeasurable help to sustaining LIFT's growth. To date the Crowley family has made gifts to LIFT in it's quest to reduce adult illiteracy in the amount of three quarters of a million dollars.