2011 Annual Appeal
Dear Friends of the Arboretum:
Black Friday … Cyber Monday … mass media marketing for everything from perfumes that will make you more appealing to high tech devices that will make you smarter and keep you connected to the world. We all have many choices and many ways to spend our hard-earned money, but do we stop and think about the long-term impact that these choices will make? Are these "investments" leaving a legacy that will impact future generations?
As I gave thanks with my family and friends over the Thanksgiving holiday, I reflected on how lucky I am to lead a great organization like the JC Raulston Arboretum. I thought about the achievements that your gifts of time, talents, and treasures have made possible. I also contemplated about what is needed most to continue the great legacy that J. C. Raulston began in 1976.
Yes, the Arboretum will always need daily operational support, and your patronage is vital. However, to insure that the Arboretum continues to be an outstanding resource for teaching, research, and public outreach, I'm asking you to invest in the JC Raulston Arboretum's Endowment for Excellence. Your gifts to the endowment provide a long-term investment that will weather the financial storms of our precarious economy and provide essential support long after we are gone.
Your gift to the Endowment for Excellence is your legacy. It is your way of insuring that future generations will have a green space to visit and to learn about plants from around the world. Your investment will help provide a beautiful tranquil setting where families can enjoy and appreciate nature. Please return your annual appeal donation in the enclosed envelope, and know that you have made a wise investment for the future.
The JC Raulston Arboretum is your garden, and it is here to serve you—to provide new plant ideas most adaptable for your garden. There is always something in bloom—even during the winter. Why not brighten your day with a visit to see the Japanese apricots, hellebores, and many other winter plants in flower? I hope that you will contact me if you have any questions and that you visit your JCRA garden today!
Sincerely,
Ted E. Bilderback
Director
PS: Take a look.... The JCRA staff are working hard to be good stewards of your investment!
