Rick Steves offers to match $100 donations to Bread for the World

[Faygo Kid]

His Christmas Fundraiser Challenge: http://www.ricksteves.com/about/pressroom/activism/bread-fundraiser.htm

I took him up on it. Good cause.

Dear Traveler,

Lately my travels have tuned me in to the realities of people who will never have the joy of seeing their names on a vacation plane ticket. If these times seem tough for our friends and family, imagine how tough they are for hungry and poor people.

To add meaning to my holiday season, I'm helping to raise funds for Bread for the World — an organization that advocates for hungry people at home and around the world. This year the needs are particularly great, so consider supporting Bread for the World's good work with a donation of $100 — and I'll match all gifts up to $100,000. Imagine, as an extended family of caring citizens, together we can empower their work with $200,000!

Bread for the World advocates for the world's poorest people. In others words — they lobby congress to go light on budget cuts that will hurt those in need. Considering all the interests competing for attention on Capitol Hill, I'm proud to support what I consider the best way possible to give the hungry a voice.

Bread for the World is amazingly effective. While the food provided by all the charities in our country only amounts to 6 percent of the food assistance available, our government provides the rest. That means Bread's advocacy work has a huge impact. For every dollar Bread raises, it leverages $100 in terms of funding that is vital to poor people. Assuming that ratio holds, if we hit our $200,000 target, we'll generate $20 million of life-giving, hope-instilling funding for this cause. I'm convinced that supporting Bread is the very best way to leverage my charitable giving. That's why I've been a Bread member for 30 years.

So here's my challenge: Help Bread for the World with your gift of $100 or more. As a thank you, I'll match your donation (so Bread will receive $200) and send you three gifts from my Rick Steves' European Christmas collection:

•"Rick Steves' European Christmas" DVD
•"Rick Steves' European Christmas" coffee-table book
•"Rick Steves' European Christmas" music CD

I'll happily pay for the cost of these three gifts plus shipping so that Bread for the World can put 100% of your donation to work. Make your gift by Dec. 10, and you'll get everything in time for Christmas.

Thanks and Merry Christmas,

Rick

P.S. As an alternative gift, select an autographed copy of Travel As A Political Act, my book sharing how my travels have made me so appreciative of the work of Bread.

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[NYC_SKP]

1. What a very generous gesture!

wow!