Dear Friend, 

My name is Kelly Mahn, I am 18 years old, and I will be a sophomore nursing student at Villanova University this fall. I am from Pennington, NJ, and have lived in New Jersey for most of my life. However, I was born in New York City, lived there as an infant, and have always felt a special connection with the city, so it comes as no surprise to most of my friends and family that I have decided to run the ING New York City Marathon this November.

I need your help in supporting a very worthy cause.  I would like you to sponsor me as I run in the ING New York City Marathon for Tuesday’s Children on November 6, 2011. 

Tuesday’s Children is a non-profit family service organization that has made a long term commitment to every individual impacted by the events of September 11, 2001 and more recently those who have been impacted by terrorist incidents worldwide.  Since 2001, Tuesday’s Children has promoted healing and recovery by strengthening family resilience, providing individual coping and life management skills and creating community through programs, mental health support and family engagement opportunities. 

Through the First Responder Alliance, Tuesday’s Children serves the heroic first responders that worked tirelessly at Ground Zero.  Many now exhibit physical and mental health issues, including chronic respiratory ailments, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, cancer and fibrosis. Programming for this population includes health and wellness, stress management, nutrition, career planning workshops, life management and family relationship building and communication. In addition, family events including picnics, sporting events, and community service opportunities help to strengthen bonds.

Project COMMON BOND brings together teens, ages 15-20, from around the world who share a “common bond” — the loss of family member due to an act of terror. This program has hosted teenagers from Argentina, England, Ireland, Israel, Liberia, Palestine, Russia, Spain, Sri Lanka and the United States.  This year’s program, now in its fourth year, was hosted in Washington DC.

Tuesday’s Children has been selected as a Charity Partner in the ING New York City Marathon.  Tuesday’s Children is currently working with 30 runners as part of this very special program.  Each runner has committed to raise at least $2,500 in support of Tuesday’s Children.  Any donation you could make on my behalf for Tuesday’s Children would be much appreciated.  As the 10^th Anniversary approaches the families continue to have a great need for Tuesday’s Children programs and services.

I feel very strongly about the cause that Tuesday’s Children supports and the services they provide for a few very important reasons. My own father came close to being one of the casualties of the attack on September 11, 2001. He has worked in New York City throughout my entire lifetime, and was scheduled to have a meeting on the very top floor of one of the World Trade Center buildings, at the Windows of the World restaurant on 9/11/01. At the very last minute he decided not to go, and later that afternoon he watched both of the twin towers crumble to the ground from the safety and comfort of his office. Sadly, his colleagues that attended the meeting all passed away.

I was in 4^th grade on that day, nine years old, and I have 3 younger siblings who were 7, 5, and 3 years old on 9/11/01. I can’t imagine what our lives would be like today had my dad never returned home from work that horrific night. I know that there are thousands of stories out there of what could have been on that fateful Tuesday afternoon, and I remind myself how lucky my siblings and I are to still have our father today. However, over 3000 children weren’t as lucky as I was on that day, and their parents unfortunately did not return home from work on September 11^th. My very worst nightmare is their reality, and they live each and every day of their lives without a parent because of a heartless terrorist attack on innocent American civilians. I can’t say I know exactly how they feel because I have never gone through something as catastrophic as they have, but I can sympathize with them and do everything I possibly can to help them carry on with their lives.

Considering my good fortune, I feel compelled to help and reach out to the children who were directly impacted by the terrorist attack on 9/11, and by other terrorist attacks worldwide. That is why I have chosen to run the 2011 ING New York City Marathon on behalf of Tuesday’s Children, and why any donation supporting this endeavor means so much not only to me, but also to the 3000 children who lost a loved one because almost ten years ago on September 11, 2001. 

Please feel free to visit the Tuesday’s Children website for more information on their life changing programs and services www.tuesdayschildren.org.  Additionally, do not hesitate to contact Alisha Feltman, Event and Development Coordinator, at (516) 562-9000 should you have questions, wish to make a donation, or require additional information. 

Warmest regards,

Kelly

Don't forget to write "Kelly" in the gift designation box.

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About Tuesday's Children: 

Tuesday’s Children is a non-profit family service organization that has made a long term commitment to every individual impacted by the events of September 11, 2001 and more recently those who have been impacted by terrorist incidents worldwide.  Since 2001, Tuesday’s Children has promoted  healing and recovery by strengthening family resilience, providing individual coping and life management skills and creating community through programs, mental health support and family engagement opportunities.

 Tuesday’s Children is a 501 (c) 3 tax deductible organization. 

All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.