Letter from the Chair Dear Friends, Welcome to Edge International. I appreciate your visiting our site and hopefully taking the next step to help make a real difference in changing the lives of those less fortunate. Being the new Chairperson of a small organization that has supported humanitarian relief and development programs in developing countries for 36 years is thrilling. Our group has supported projects such as emergency humanitarian relief projects, animal husbandry programs, building and/or repairing irrigation systems, establishing schools and trade training programs. We also have delivered tons of medical supplies to clinics and hospitals in the most remote parts of Africa and helped to build and/or repair several orphanages. We have touched and changed the lives of millions. We strive toward E mpowering through D evelopment, G rowth, and E ducation. As our annual fall fundraiser, we organize a grassroots music and arts festival dubbed “Band Together,” to be held mid September, 2007 in the greater metropolitan area. “Band Together” was born in acknowledgment of the poignant social and economic problems at home and abroad. It not only represents Bands coming together and playing for a purpose, but also symbolizes the desire of the average man to “Band Together” to help combat domestic violence and support international needs through education. While “Band Together” will primarily feature musicians from all genres (representing Maryland, D.C., Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania), the festival will be filled with art and performances of all kinds. The festival will be an all day affair on 100 acres of private land. And with the aid of friends like you spreading the word – our second annual Band Together will even more successful than the first! However, the real beauty of this “Band Together” event is that it is not just about the music and art -- it is about helping others help themselves through raising awareness and funds to combat domestic violence and to support overseas educational programs which will aid in breaking the vicious cycle of poverty in developing countries. Believing that we have a vested interest in the protection and education of our children, all net proceeds from this event will benefit three projects focused on the welfare and education of children. In the United States half the net proceeds will benefit The Bernie House, a transitional home for families victimized by domestic violence. The other half will be split to benefit two educational programs in Africa: 1) The Toposa East Education Program in Sudan, and 2) The Emusoi Center in Tanzania . Acknowledging that education is the way out of poverty and underdevelopment EDGE International has picked these 2 vital programs mentioned above because of the immediate impact our help will provide to the children in these regions. If you think you or your company might want to get involved at the Sponsorship level, please let us know. Your participation will be listed on our website along with photos of you and/or friends from your company who come to our event. In addition, depending on the level of Sponsorship, there will be banners on the property featuring you and/or your company as one of the top Sponsors. Your participation will be mentioned in surrounding area local newspapers and we are working with several radio stations who will mention all our Sponsors' names in the last few weeks leading up to the event. We are very excited about this event and our programs – but we need your help to make “Band Together” the event of the year! It would be an honor to have you be a part of our team in any way you can . Believe me, concerned individuals like you are just the kind of people we're looking for. So please, call me at (240) 477-2295 and let me know how you'd like to be involved or email me at skdowns@edgeintl.org. And thank you for showing such an interest. I hope we have an opportunity to work together on this important event. Or, you will take an interest in helping one of our many projects. No matter what level your involvement, I hope to see you this September. Working together, I know we can build a positive future for those who might otherwise never break free from the cycle of poverty. Sincerely,
|
