Dear Family, Friends & Colleagues:

As some of you know, I am involved with 826 National -- an inspirational non-profit organization that administers eight creative writing/tutoring centers in inner-cities across the US.  Started in SF at 826 Valencia in 2002, the 826 network has grown to include tutoring centers in Boston, Chicago, Detroit/Ann Arbor, Los Angeles, Brooklyn/New York, Washington DC and, newly opened this year, in New Orleans!  For the past few years I have helped new chapters join the network and we welcomed a second location in SF (Tenderloin) and now NOLA -- and soon will be adding new chapters in Minneapolis/St. Paul, across the bay in Oakland, and a 3rd SF location in Mission Bay (all planned for 2019 - 2020).  

And this last year we launched 826Digital -- an online/open-source tool for educators/teachers -- a repository of lesson plans, spark notes, and projects to reach even more students in even more communities across the country and world!   And it goes without saying that I am thrilled to provide additional information, contacts, volunteer opportunities, etc on any of our locations and initiatives.

Please join Kelly and me this #GivingTuesday in supporting an incredible organization that is helping empower students and open the minds of underserved children.  We have a goal of raising $30,000 (hopefully more!) and are providing a Match for all gifts up to $10,000.  If that is not enough “leverage” for you, please know the 826 Network provided services to nearly 40,000 less-advantaged students across our chapters this past year -- and we are expanding/growing quickly with our new locations and our 826 Digital platform.

Please click the link below and join me by making a donation.  From my personal experience with the organization these past five years, I assure you that a contribution to 826 National will make a big difference and help children who need it most.

https://www.classy.org/fundraiser/1777019

If you are interested in contributing from another source (check, donor advised fund/foundation, etc.), please just reply to me with your intention and I will follow-up with you to arrange that.

Thank you for your consideration and Happy Holidays.  We all have so much to be thankful for.

All the best, John

PS – I may send out one “friendly reminder” next week as #GivingTuesday approaches on Nov. 27^th

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At 826National, our purpose is fourfold: (1) to drive growth of the organization into new cities and into the digital domain to expand our impact, (2) to monitor the health of and provide financial support to chapters as they grow, (3) conduct assessments to quantify the impact we’re having on our students, and (4) to coordinate curriculum and ensure operational excellence across all of our chapters.

A few exciting updates on those fronts from last year:

1)      Last year nearly 40,000 students attended programming at 826 chapters across our 8 locations throughout inner cities in the US.  Impact! 

2)      826 Digital has been live one year https://826digital.com/ and used by educators in 48 states (come on North Dakota and West Virginia!) and across 26 countries!   If any of you know teachers, please forward to them! It’s a free resource with great writing-based activities and class plans.  The content has grown tremendously over the past year and an entire area on Social/Emotional learning resources and Anti-Bullying thanks to an amazing grant/partnership with Cartoon Network. Check it out!

3)      We expanded into New Orleans, officially opening on 8/26 (of course that date!). We held our national board meeting there last month and saw first hand the impact already being made in the Seventh Ward -- the city has a huge underserved educational need but incredible spirit of resilience! Visit 826neworleans.org/about

4)      In the past two weeks, 826DC students heard from Michelle Obama and 826CHI student, Esperanza Rivera, joined President Barack Obama and our founder Dave Eggers on stage at the 2018 Obama Foundation Summit for a conversation about youth leadership and the power of youth voices!! This is our mission in action and what we are all about -- amplifying the voices of our incredible young writers. 

We are Thankful for everyone's efforts throughout the 826 community and are Celebrating the transformative impact on many tens of thousands of students' lives.