***For C. Owens Only***

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is my great pleasure to have accepted the invitation as a guest speaker at this great event. My name is Sonia Hankerson. I am a Covenant House Organization board member, and I would sincerely like to thank you all for being here today. I want to take this opportunity to congratulate everyone for launching such an outstanding fundraising campaign that has involved many urban organizations. Comment by Megan Topham: I would recommend launching directly into your Attention Getter - think about creating an image...use words like Imagine...and create a scenario where the listener as to put themselves in the shoes of your service population. Perhaps describing the life of someone your org helped… Then the current need…what are the stats of the increase in juvenile human trafficking? Describe the problem that the Covenant House addresses…

As we were briefed today, our organization is looking towards reducing the number of homeless adults, reducing adolescent human trafficking, increasing human capital, and increasing adolescent employment. These are some of the issues that have extensively been affecting our community. Statistics show that there has been an increase in the number of juvenile human trafficking among various other problems that are of great concern t the community.

The focus of Covenant House Organization is to work together with other stakeholders to ensure that we achieve our goal together as one community. Charity is not showing off. Charity means helping people who are in need. Last year, we offered 50,000 dollars, the sum that was used in building a maternity hospital. The funds went to equipping the hospital, and it is today up and running. This has been very significant in reducing the number of infant deaths in the community. I am honored to thank all the sponsors and private individuals that contributed to that noble task. Already this year, we have continued to offer our support to this maternity, and it is doing very well. Comment by Megan Topham: How does this effort connect to the mission? Describe how Covenant House addresses the problem described above. This statement can provide the supporting evidence of the impact gifts have on your service population and/or community.

In this project that we are planning to undertake, we have a proposed budget of 8,555,000 dollars, and our annual budget is 7,278,034 dollars. We have corporate sponsors who have helped us in most of the projects that we have been doing. We proactively apply for 5-7 government and foundation grants every year. We also have more than 50 members whose dues have been helping us to support our programs. Almost 40% of the funds we use to keep our projects come from individual donors like you. Your contribution, therefore, means a lot to us and will play a very significant role in helping us push forward our agenda. Comment by Megan Topham: What project specifically? Not sure this section is necessary.

Your donations today and every other support that you will provide will be very significant. It will help support this project of reducing the number of homeless adults, reducing the numbers of adolescent human trafficking, increasing human capital, and increasing adolescent employment. Comment by Megan Topham: This is good info for the beginning of the support/proof section Comment by Megan Topham: Add a section/a sentence about why you are connected to this mission

If you help us raise the 1,000,000 dollars, you will have helped in supporting this vital cause. Would not you consider supporting Covenant House Organization to meet its dream of supporting the needy I the community? Think carefully of the story you have heard today and consider helping Covenant House Organization support the community's needy.

There are various ways that you can offer your donation. There is a pledge card that you can tear out and leave with your donation today at the back of the programs that you have. Similarly, by leaving your gifts and contact information with one of the scribes circulating, you can join many others who have helped our organization.

Thank you for taking your time and coming today to help us in promoting this wonderful organization.