 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2003 (XXXXI 4) |
Thanks to the generosity of many Friends, PYM’s Annual Fund raised just over $430,000 between July 1, 2002 and June 30, 2003. We were disappointed to miss our goal of $435,000, but we also recognize the last year presented economic challenges to many Friends. The same factors that have caused our budget problems have affected many of our donors. In that context, we wish to express our heartfelt gratitude to those who dug a little deeper or made some sacrifice to support our Yearly Meeting.
Losses in the stock markets over the last couple years have caused a significant drop in investment income – investments that represent the gifts of an earlier generation of Friends – for PYM. This means we have less money from those sources to support the services and projects members and Meetings ask and hope for from our Yearly Meeting. We must count more heavily than ever on the gifts of our current members to support the work we have committed ourselves to carry out.
Ironically, it is those projects that are most timely now, like support for the religious education of our young people, or the efforts we have made in the last year to speak more forcefully for peace and justice, that are most dependent on gifts to the Annual Fund. (Endowments and restricted funds provide significant funds for scholarships, support for the aging, and grant-making.)
We thank everyone who gave last year. And we ask each member of this Yearly Meeting to think about giving to support our Yearly Meeting programs in the coming year.
There has never been a time when deepening our Quaker faith and practice in our Meetings, and then carrying our witness into the world, has been more important. Providing support to our Meetings and members to nurture that faith, and offering opportunities to carry that witness into the wider world, is exactly what PYM does. We need your help to keep doing that.
Thomas H. Jeavons
Swarthmore Meeting (PA)
PYM General Secretary
Last modified: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at 08:18 AM