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Dear
Friends,
In 1986, Alan Ross, then executive director of the
Dallas Tavern Guild and a tireless worker for gay rights
and those with AIDS, began the PLWA Holiday Gift Project
with the goal of providing gifts during the holiday
season to PLWAs in area hospitals. Since then we have
come to serve many area agencies, including AIDS
Services of Dallas, the Food Pantry, the Resource
Center, Legacy Cottage, the Parkland Hospital AIDS wing,
AIDS Arms and AIDS Interfaith of Dallas. Since Alan’s
death in 1995, members of the Dallas Tavern Guild have
continued this project in his memory and in his name.
The PLWA holiday baskets consist of colorful gift bags
or boxes filled with apples, pears, trail mix, hard
candy, juice, cookies, a teddy bear and an appropriate
seasonal greeting card explaining the gift and listing
the kind contributors who make it possible.
The cost is approximately $35 for each gift basket,
which includes expenses associated with the project. We
hope to be able to distribute over 1,000 of these
baskets this year, which are put together through the
volunteer efforts of members of the Dallas Tavern Guild
and our sponsors. We receive donations of some of the
items for the baskets and have some sponsorship funding,
but in order to accomplish our goal, we will need to
raise additional funds to assure the success of this
event. This is why we are asking you to make a modest
donation that will mean so much to men, women and
children who have so very little.
The past year has been a difficult one for all of us,
including the Tavern Guild with escalating costs of our
events, including the parade and rally, but that does
not mean that we don’t still need to give back just a
little to those less fortunate than ourselves. Your
donation is tax deductible and you or your company will
be recognized as a donor on the letter inside each gift
bag delivered. Suggested donation amounts are listed
below this letter.
All of the individuals and businesses participating in
this worthy project will be published in a Thank-You
letter in the Dallas Voice. We sincerely hope you will
consider being a part of it and help to make someone
less fortunate have a brighter holiday, knowing that you
care. I thank you in advance for your willingness to
help others in this holiday season. The gifts from us
are many times the only gifts that the recipients get
during the holiday season.
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