Letter to the Editor

To All Members of the Monmouth College Community:

On behalf of “Alfie,” and all of the Warren Achievement community, I want to thank you for your generous gift. As I understand it, you have raised around $2,000 to help us support this child with very special needs in our group home. Every dollar you provide will go to pay for added support for Alfie. Gifts like this support Warren Achievement Center in more ways than you might imagine.

Yes, we need the financial support. You might be surprised to know that Illinois, while ranking in the top 10 of the United States in personal income, is in the bottom 10 in supporting human services. In this particular program, state funding falls short of our actual costs by over $10,000 per child per year.

Warren Achievement very much needs the funds that come from individual donations, local taxes and organized giving like United Way, and, indeed, your campaign. Without these gifts, we would not be able to provide the quality services that are our hallmark.

We need more than money, though. We need to know that others value our mission and believe that what we do is worthy of a sacrifice. Your gift validates our work and encourages us to continue. In this way, everyone at Warren Achievement Center has benefited from your generosity.

I would like to offer a special thanks to Dr. Kristin Larson, her department colleagues and the students who worked to make this gift possible.

Also, I would be remiss if I did not add a belated thanks to Dr. Kathleen Fannin and the Student Chaplains, and the college community, for their many years of giving to the Christmas Tree project that ensures that members of our WAC community who do not have close family ties receive gifts at Christmas.

It is wonderful to be in the community of service with you all.

Most sincerely,

James Keefe

Vice President

Warren Achievement Center