(Note: Please “SAVE AS” this letter to your hard drive first! All messages to the parents completing this letter are in bright green text with parentheses. Please replace or delete ALL of these messages – including this one - for your final version to send to donors. And don’t forget to change any green font you replaced to black! It is recommended that you read the letter carefully when you’re done to make sure you didn’t miss any, or that the grammar still makes sense when referring to a single child or multiple kids. It was tricky to write!)

May 2017

Dear (Fill in family or friend’s name),

As parents of a high school track athlete(s), we are writing to ask for a special favor. Our track at Ashland High School has major issues for (name your kid or kids) and (their/his/her) teammates. There are bumps, dips, and cracks (some with grass!) all over the surface. The track is very hard to train on and it’s unsuitable for hosting home track meets. It’s frustrating for the team, and for us parents, because every other school we visit has a newer track – one they can be proud of, and one that the community also gets to enjoy. It’s time to fix this problem, and to help our athletes excel in their sport. (Spouse’s name) and I need your help!

Our family is working with a volunteer group to raise the money to restore our Grizzly track to today’s standard, and it’s a BEAR of an effort. The effort has to raise $500,000 to rebuild the track and, to meet the construction goals, the money has to be raised by the end of June. The goal is to have the project completed before winter sets in, so the track will be usable for next spring’s track & field season.

Fortunately, we live in a community that supports our schools and we have more than $280,000 in donations already. Our story got fantastic coverage through the local paper, so word is spreading. The article provides more information about the track restoration project as well as some interesting background about Ashland’s legacy as a track & field town: Ashland Daily Tidings Article.

Every AHS Track family is seeking donations from friends and family. Our family’s goal is to raise at least $1,000 (change this as appropriate) to do our part. (Name of your kid or kids) love(s) competing in (fill in their favorite event or two or three) and get(s) excited about the possibility of having an improved facility for practice next year. (Spouse’s name) and I really need your support and ask that you give generously. It would mean a lot to us, to (name of your kid or kids), and to the parents, coaches and community members that are leading this effort.

Please donate NOW and help us build our dream track.

Donate with a credit card by visiting Ashland Schools Foundation.org; or you can donate at GoFundMe.com/AshlandTrack if you want to be part of our online campaign and share the link with friends. If you prefer to send a check, please send it to: Ashland Schools Foundation – AHS Track Fund, 100 Walker Avenue, Ashland, OR 97520. All gifts will be recognized on a permanent donor board next to our new track.

Thank You…and Go Grizzlies!

Sincerely,

(Your names)