Sweet Pea Autumn 2004

AUTUMN CAMPAIGN LETTER 2004

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support of the Sweet Pea Foundation. The Foundation continues to make significant strides toward its goals thanks to our friends and family who have so generously contributed to its endeavors.

The following is a summary of the most recent happenings of the Foundation. As you read below, please know that we provide this information not only as part of our fundraising efforts but also as a means to keep you informed of the progress of the Sweet Pea Foundation.

To date, the Foundation has purchased and delivered over 900 toys to Chicago Children’s Memorial Hospital and Riley Hospital for Children. As we mentioned in the spring letter, the NICU at Riley was in need of bouncy seats and swings. We were able to provide three of each as well as ten Leapfrog crib toys called "Dreamscapes Soothers" to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. In addition, we have made several donations of food and "wish list" items to the Ronald McDonald Houses of Indianapolis and Chicago, and the Ronald McDonald Family Room in South Bend.

In August, the Foundation’s first annual Kickoff Classic Golf Outing was held at Christiana Creek Country Club. Congratulations to the winners: Steve Brown, Joseph Cataldo, Sean Kearns and Darran Teamor. A special thanks to our sponsors: Century Title Services, Keybank and Wachovia Securities. We also want to thank BCM Investments, Gateway Properties, Middlebury Hardwood Products and Niblock Excavating for their support as well. A portion of the proceeds were used to purchase a combination DVD/VHS player and several movies for the Ronald McDonald House on West Deming Street in Chicago.

We hope you have had an opportunity to visit our Web site. It provides a great deal of information about the Foundation and its brief history. We also post photos of the different events that we sponsor as well as photos of the visits we make to the different hospitals. We try to update the site every month. If you have any suggestions regarding the Web site, please do not hesitate to share your ideas with us.

The Foundation has had several inquires regarding corporate gift matching. We have successfully established the Foundation as a registered not-for-profit organization with a few companies. If your company has a matching gift program and you would like to get the Sweet Pea Foundation registered, please contact us and we will be thrilled to complete the necessary paper work. Corporate gift matching is a great and simple way to double your contribution to the Foundation!

The perpetual fund for the Ronald McDonald Room in Indianapolis continues to grow. Each donation received puts us one step closer to our goal. As we continue to grow the fund, we have also been able to provide non-medical support in the form of toys and gifts to many sick children. With your help, we are confident that we will be able to deliver over 1,000 toys by the end of 2004. The contributions received as part of this campaign will be divided just as they were in the spring campaign:

                                                             70%        Ronald McDonald House Perpetual Fund

We want to remind you that 100 percent of your contribution will be directed toward programs that help sick children and their families. All marketing and overhead costs continue to be paid for by the Letherman and Power families. We also want to reaffirm to you that your mailing information will not be shared with anyone. If at any time you wish to be removed from our mailing list, just contact us and indicate that you wish to be removed from our list. We will certainly respect your wishes.

Please save the dates for the following upcoming events: On March 5, at the Ramada Inn in Elkhart, The Elkhart Junior Women’s Club will be hosting their annual Mardi Gras Fundraiser. A portion of the funds raised will be donated to the Sweet Pea Foundation. And, on March 17 at The Knights of Columbus in Elkhart, we will be hosting our second annual Blarney Bash. Once again we will have Irish music, corned beef and cabbage and green beer. We hope that you will be able to join us at these exciting events.

Do you know someone who would like to be added to our mailing list? Please help us expand our database by giving a reply card to a friend or family member.  We are more than happy to supply reply cards upon request.

We thoroughly enjoy the work of the Sweet Pea Foundation and are overwhelmed with gratitude for the support we have received over the past eighteen months. The memory of our precious Grace continues to thrive as a result of the support we have received from you. Thank you again for your support of the Foundation.

In peace,

Sweet Pea Foundation

Pete, Suzanne, Andrew, and angel Grace Letherman