Dear Friends,
Have you ever watched “It’s a Wonderful Life” starring Jimmy Stewart? If not, it is a must see on my list of favorite movies. In fact every year around the holidays our entire family sits down together to watch it. I mention this movie as it is the best way to describe how I felt returning home two days before Christmas and going to our mailbox to find an overwhelming out pouring of cards, notes, contributions, letters and support towards our foundation and the work we do. As I sat down at my desk and started to open each individual piece of mail and read through the kind words, well wishes, acknowledgements, and donations, it truly brought tears to my eyes. It was at that moment I knew exactly how George Bailey must have felt when the entire community of Bedford Falls came together to lend support and back his family in their hour of need. At that moment he felt and knew, as do I, that the people that surround us in our every day lives and those that are not here physically but are still walking along side us in thought and in spirit, are such a big part of our journey and our quest to make a difference. It is this connection that makes us all feel like the “richest man in town” and for that, I thank you!
We continued to make upward progress in 2012 despite the continued economic struggles across the globe; we were very fortunate to have record setting donations and pledges. We were able to increase the number of fund raising events in our honor and we continued to receive multi-year commitments from individuals and companies. I’m also proud to mention that for the fifth year in a row and since our inception The Zukowski Family was once again able to match all contributions, and once again our board of directors worked side by side to ensure that all events and administrative needs were covered by volunteers enabling us to ensure 100% of donations went to helping those in need.
Once again we feel fortunate that in 2012 we were able to expand the number of individuals, homes and organizations that we were able to impact. Coat drives, food drives, back to school drives, scholarship drives and helping children without homes were just a few of our focal areas in 2012.
I would also like to acknowledge how fortunate and blessed I am to be surrounded by a great group of board members that comprise of Joe Proulx, my wife Cheryl, Todd Shaw and Tom and Paula Banas. Thank you all for your time, energy and being such great friends throughout my journey.
I’d also like to make a special call out to my cousin George Reed as well as Carol Wilkas, and Jim Macek of the Charity Cycling Committee for all your time, efforts and energy that you spend helping better our foundation. We are only as good as the people we surround ourselves with, and you are the “BEST”, Thank you!
Please consider joining our efforts in helping us reach more children in 2013 by making a tax-deductible contribution. All amounts are greatly appreciated.
You may make a check payable to The Zukowski Family Foundation and mail it to P.O. Box 87, Clarksville, MD 21029, or you can visit us online at ZukowskiFoundation.org and make an online contribution.
Best Regards! — Ray and Cheryl Zukowski
