Wilbraham Hampden Academic Trust, Inc. Launches Direct Mail Fund Raising Campaign

Information packets mailed to residents of Hampden and Wilbraham this week will seek financial contributions

Wilbraham and Hampden, Mass. Oct. 9, 2003—Wilbraham Hampden Academic Trust, Inc. (w.h.a.t.) began its fund raising efforts in earnest this week with the mailing of a communication to all residential and business addresses in the two communities. The Board of Directors expects a strong response to this mailing and hopes to make substantial progress towards its 2003-2004 fund raising target.

“So far w.h.a.t. has been extremely well received,” said Robert Lounsbury, M.D., president of the new corporation. “Before we started our formal fund raising efforts we had already raised over $10,000 and our kick off dinner/dance event scheduled for November 15th sold out by word of mouth before the tickets were even printed! We expect the response to this mailing to be equally enthusiastic.”

Wilbraham Hampden Academic Trust, Inc. was formed by a group of concerned citizens during the past several months to provide funding for innovative and enriching programs in the regional public school system that serves the two communities. w.h.a.t. is administratively and financially separate from the towns and from the regional school district. The Board of Directors envisions an enduring foundation that will carry out its mission year after year. The Board has set a fund raising goal of $100,000 for the corporation’s first year of operations and expects to use a large proportion of that to fund grants within the school system during the current school year.

According to Lounsbury the direct mail campaign will increase the visibility of the foundation within the communities and provide answers to important questions citizens may have about w.h.a.t. In addition to a letter describing the foundation and seeking donations, the mailing includes an informative brochure. “We hope everyone will look for the communication in their mailbox and take this opportunity to make a contribution. Clearly the residents of Hampden and Wilbraham are interested in education and in a strong and vibrant school system. After all, w.h.a.t. is more important…?!”

Those interested in making a tax-deductible donation to w.h.a.t. may mail it to P.O. Box 477, Wilbraham, MA 01095-0477.