Dear Friends and Supporters,

As I reflect upon the quote above, I am struck by how succinctly Dr. King described the nature of our interdependence with one another here in Louisville and throughout the world. While many in our community experience good health, happiness and comfort, we sometimes take for granted that all our neighbors experience the same. As you know, this is not the case.

We continue to see and hear accounts depicting the overwhelming life challenges that thousands face daily. The need persists, and thankfully, so does your support in response. Your history of providing financial and in-kind support to many community non-profit organizations has helped to keep the hope alive of positively changing lives. I thank you for that invaluable ongoing support.

As evidence of the positive impact your support creates, the Urban League had another exceptional year in 2014. We sustained our positive momentum in assisting individuals through the areas of housing and financial education, workforce development and the promotion of youth education. We served more than 12,000 clients, assisting them through a multitude of services, such as: 1) saving homes from foreclosure; 2) ensuring tax returns are accurate and filed timely (VITA); 3) training the unemployed and underemployed and then assisting them with job placement; 4) walking prospective home-owners through understanding the critical steps to buying a home; and 5) helping youth to engage in seeking higher levels of education through out-of-school programs.

Thanks to your contributing support, the Urban League’s $3.2 million budget has resulted in a positive annual economic impact for our community of nearly $39 million. That’s quite an impact when you consider it . . . and one that we plan to further build upon next year.

In early 2015, we will introduce two new initiatives--a "Financial Empowerment Center" (FEC) and "Zones of Hope"--that enhance our core work. The FEC initiative seeks to fill vocational, educational and financial service gaps in order to help families earn more, to keep more of what they earn, to begin building savings and assets . . . and to progress up the financial ladder. The second effort--Zones of Hope--aspires to be a "community empowerment" engine driven by a grass roots effort that utilizes the strength of neighborhoods, faith-based organizations, schools, and other community-based organizations to jointly restore a sense of place and connection to Louisville’s urban core.

I personally thank you for your past support and respectfully ask that you consider making a donation to this year’s Annual Fund Drive, so that the good work of the Louisville Urban League continues to its fullest potential. If you would like more details about any of the 2015 Louisville Urban League initiatives described above, please do not hesitate to contact me.