Greetings!
For the past few
months we have all watched - feeling helpless - as our country has tried again and again to pull itself out of a major financial tail-spin. Just today the NY Times announced the Federal Reserve lowered it's benchmark interest rate to a record 0 - 0.25% - the lowest ever.
I
believe NY Faith & Justice was conceived two years ago for such a
time as this - a time when the percentage of economically vulnerable
people is growing and all our eyes are watching God.
For the past two years we have been witnesses. God has been at work among
us. In the evangelical church it is no longer a foreign concept that faith and justice walk hand in hand. Disparate arms of the church are coming together with advocacy agencies and government representatives in New York City
in ways unseen since the 19th century. We are joining hands with one thing in mind - the eradication of poverty in our city. Our work is poised to make a real impact on the quality of life for "the least of these" in New York City in 2009.
Yet, like many
individuals and organizations in recent days, the financial crisis has hit NY
Faith & Justice fast and hard. As Institutional funding is drying up for start-up non-profits, we find ourselves facing budget cuts including potentially laying
off staff. Considering our paid staff consists of only two people, a
reduction of 50% would have very drastic effects on our ability to serve this
coming year.
Due to very recent
developments, we have been informed that we must raise $20,000 by the
end of this month in order to avoid these drastic cuts. We are
trusting God and request you keep us in your prayers this season. In
addition we implore your help and support in this time of great
need.
As you consider whether or not you will contribute, please do one thing first: imagine going back to a New York City without NY Faith & Justice. If you benefit at all from our work, if you stand for what we stand for, we ask you to stand with us now. Right now is when it counts.
Three Ways to Give Before December 31st
If you're broke right now, like so many others, we understand. There is still a way to give. Please become an official member today for only $50 per year (or just $5 per month). If each person who received this email gave only $50, NY Faith & Justice would be able to continue its work into 2009. Click here to get started today.
If you have been trying to decide where to give your year-end
charitable donation, I ask you to give to NY Faith & Justice today. Would you consider giving ($100, $200, $500, $1000, $5000 or
more) to help bring NYFJ into another year of work in the city? You can set up one time or recurring payments online through NY Charities. Click here to get started today.
If you lead a church or organization, please take action
today to make your organization's partnership with NYFJ official.
Finally, please consider helping us get the word out by spreading the word to your personal networks. Make your own personal appeal and ask them to help keep the work of NYFJ
going by giving just $50 by December 31st.
If you would rather not give your tax-deductible gift online, you can send your checks made payable to "FCNY". Please write "NY Faith & Justice" in the memo line and mail all donations to:
New York Faith & Justice
475 Riverside Drive
Suite 500
New York, NY 10115
All gifts are tax-deductible. Fund for the City of New York (FCNY) is a 501(c)3 non-profit and is the fiscal sponsor of NY Faith & Justice.
Thank you for your serious consideration. Please contact
me if you plan to give. It would help to know by midnight this Thursday if and how much you intend to give. I will be meeting with our fiscal sponsor this Friday morning to
discuss the future of NYFJ.
Thank you all again! And may God bless your Christmas!
In Faith & Justice,
Lisa Sharon Harper
Co-Founder and Executive Director
New York Faith & Justice
lsharper@nyfaithjustice.org
212.870.1254 or 212.870.1201
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