The Annual Appeal for Orchard House

We are grateful to the many donors who drive our momentum forward. Your gift of any size at any time is deeply appreciated. We hope to hear from you soon.
How to Contribute	~from the desk of Jan Turnquist Orchard House

November 2007

Dear Friends:

In this time of Thanksgiving, we’re filled with gratitude for our many kind friends who generously support Orchard House. Thanks to them, “America’s House” -- as Mary Richardson of Channel 5’s Chronicle calls it -- still stands at Concord’s gateway, as it has for the past 300 years. Now we ask that you help us make certain that Orchard House and all it represents continues to serve the community for years to come.

Your support helps us to preserve not only the house, but the spirit of the Alcott family as well. Think of Abigail May Alcott who, as a social worker, struggled with how to provide for the needs of complete strangers -- women and children, unemployed men, immigrants -- while she could barely afford basic necessities for her own family. Yet her heart was large; the Alcotts felt that as little as they had, there were others in more dire straits, and perhaps, more importantly, that being charitable had its own reward:

“… for in every influence where mercy goes out, grace is abundantly poured in …”

For nearly 100 years, Orchard House has depended upon donors who value the compassionate example of the Alcotts. Today, we ask you to give to the 2007 Annual Appeal for Orchard House before December 31st.

Our goal this year is $200,000. We’ve already raised $128,000. We hope that Orchard House and the Alcotts have in some way touched your heart so that you will help us raise the remaining $72,000 -- or exceed it!

Please help us keep “America’s House” thriving in the coming year!

This archival photograph of the Alcotts in front of Orchard House (circa 1865) attests to the marvelous integrity of the house and grounds that has been maintained to this day.

Your gift will make a significant difference and allow us to continue:

Award-winning tours and highly-acclaimed educational programs which exceed Massachusetts Frameworks requirements
Careful preservation work to save the 317-year-old Orchard House, as well as the 128-year-old Concord School of Philosophy
Public programs, adult education, professional development for teachers, and Scout activities
Personalized research assistance for scholars, authors, and journalists
Special accommodations for visitors with accessibility needs

Please don’t put this letter aside. We need your support. Your tax-deductible gift to our Annual Appeal by December 31st will benefit future generations as well as families, students, scholars, and visitors from all corners of the globe who come to Orchard House tomorrow! We urge you to consider the largest gift you can, but we also sincerely say that no gift is too small, and that all gifts are greatly appreciated.

As we also honor philanthropy as a nation this November, we ask you to “Change our world with your giving heart.”

Sincerely,

Jan Turnquist, Executive Director
Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House

Gloria & Chuck Clough
Annual Appeal Co-Chairs
L. M. Alcott Memorial Association

P.S. Click here to find out how to make a special donation by December 31st to reap real rewards for both “middle-aged” folk (those 70-1/2 & up) and Orchard House!

Orchard House/The L. M. Alcott Memorial Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to public education and historic preservation; all donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.

Contributions can now be made online, using your credit card. Click here to make an online donation.

Contributions may also be made to the Annual Appeal by mail or fax. For a printable version of the annual appeal form, click here. Mail the form to: Annual Appeal, Orchard House, P.O. Box 343, Concord, MA. 01742 or if you prefer, fax the printed form to 978-369-1367.

All contributions to Orchard House are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. You will receive acknowledgement of your contribution in the mail and be listed in our quarterly newsletter as a contributor.

Thank you!