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Donate Now
Important Message from
Jerry Dawson, President of "Catfish" Chapter


Dear Friends,

Do you have 5 minutes to make a difference for people with ALS?

Due to current economic conditions, we find ourselves in a very difficult position. It is no secret that most Americans are feeling the pinch. We are all concerned about how the economy will affect our families and our jobs. This fear has people holding on tightly to their pocketbooks and wallets. Many companies are just not giving at all.

We know that many of our supporters have already given this year and we cannot tell you how much that means to us. However, we are feeling the full impact of this economic storm. Overall giving is down while demand for our programs is up more than ever before. As a result, we are facing a very large financial shortfall this year; more than $200,000. Unless the trends change, we will have to significantly cut our budget for next year. Thus far, we have been able to fund every patient grant request, continue the support of our programs and honor our clinic commitments. However, this may not be the case if people do not respond swiftly to our plea.

People with ALS depend on us to be there for them. We need YOU to be there for us today... now!

As you know, we have never asked for support with this kind of urgency. We haven't had to. We have been blessed to have loyal supporters who give generously to our cause. We have not had to bombard our friends with emails and letters begging for donations. I believe that our supporters are consistently generous because we are a mission driven organization and they can see that. They know what a terrible disease ALS is and are very familiar with the work that we do. I believe with all my heart that people notice when we are doing things the right way. They notice the generous funding for care and equipment. They notice when we open new clinics or fund others. They notice when we lend a hand or a sympathetic ear. They sleep well at night knowing that we are consistently recognized nationally for keeping our administrative and fundraising expenses low. I believe that when we focus on our mission first, people recognize this and give because they believe in what we do.

We need your help now more than ever before!

Won't you PLEASE take 5 minutes NOW to make a donation? If you have already given this year or even this month, please consider making another donation. No matter how small, your gift counts. Simply click on "Donate Now" if you are in a position to help:

Donate Now (http://web.alsa.org/site/Donation2?i....donation=root)

If you give whatever you can, I know we can get through this difficult time without having to cut funding to our essential programs. Thank you in advance for whatever you are able to do!

Together for a cure,

Jerry Dawson
President/CEO

PS: Please consider forwarding this page to your friends, family and co-workers. We need as many people as possible to help. Thank you again!

http://www.catfishchapter.org/events/fiveminutes.html