25th Anniversary Appeal update: nearly $85,000 collected to date
The following is a portion of remarks made by Linda Post Bushkofsky, executive director, to the 2013 Conference of Synodical Presidents meeting at the Lutheran Center, February 21-24, 2013. Ideas on how you and your unit can contribute to the appeal can be found here. Make an online gift today (pick “25th Anniversary Appeal” from the drop down menu). Or send your check to Women of the ELCA, PO Box 71256, Chicago, IL 60694-1256 and write “25th Anniversary Appeal” on the memo line.
One of the ways our churchwide board chose to celebrate our special anniversary was to invite women to contribute to the 25th Anniversary Appeal. And connecting our current giving with our rich past, the board decided that one-half of the money received in the appeal would be given to a global mission project, that being the ELCA Malaria Campaign.
You’ve seen the ads in Interchange and Gather. You’ve used the fliers at your events. We had a special mailing last fall to our supporters. And, to date, $84,555 has been received for the 25th Anniversary Appeal. The appeal continues officially through the end of May. (It’s likely, however, that we’ll continue to receive gifts throughout 2013, and all gifts earmarked for the 25th Anniversary Appeal will go to that purpose.)
Our sisters in Region 4 challenged each other to collectively give $25,000 to the appeal. So far, Region 4 has contributed $13,304, so they are well on their way.
Five years ago when we celebrated our 20th anniversary we held a similar appeal and received $102,000. We think that having received nearly $85,000 to date and with three more months in the appeal, we will definitely exceed the 20th anniversary number.
Imagine this:
- If every unit sent just $25 for this anniversary offering, about $175,000 would be given.
- If every unit gave $250 for this offering, the offering would exceed $1.75 million dollars.
- Imagine what would happen if every woman in every unit gave $25 for this anniversary offering! The offering could easily reach $5 million dollars.
But it’s not a matter of numbers. This offering is about how we respond to God’s manifold gifts to us. It’s about how we view the resources with which we have been entrusted. It’s about our very core understanding and belief in God and God’s ability to provide what we need.
Turning back to the ELCA Malaria Campaign for a moment, some women in our organization have sent money earmarked not for the anniversary appeal but for the ELCA Malaria Campaign itself. They have sent that money to Women of the ELCA and 100% of that money has gone to the ELCA Malaria Campaign. To date, that amount is $84,403.
Who knows how much more has been sent directly from women to the ELCA Malaria Campaign? That’s a figure we’ll never know.
On behalf of the board and staff, I thank you for all you’ve done in this celebration year. I thank you for the gifts you’ve made and facilitated to the 25h Anniversary Appeal.
May this blessed 25th anniversary inspire us into the next 25 years of mobilizing women to act boldly on their faith in Jesus Christ.
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