Tuesday, January 05, 2010

Lakritz Family Scholarship

Dear Friends and Family,

I hope this letter finds you well during the holiday season. May the new year bring you good health, much happiness, and strong friendships and family ties.

As most of you know Dena and I lost both our fathers in late 2008. We spent most of 2009 recovering from the loss and I can honestly say that this was a good year for us despite all the trials and tribulations we’ve gone through this past year. We have our close family and friends to thank for holding us up and carrying us through the difficult times. Thank you for all that you did for us. We love you all. We know now that 2010 will be a very good year and we hope it will be for you too.

As we reach the time of a new year I am writing to bring you up to date with our family and how things are with all of us. I am also writing with an appeal for more help.

One of the most amazing things happened when my dad was badly injured in a car accident last year. A group of citizens in our home town of Hanford, CA got together to create a scholarship in his name. They planned to honor him for his fifty years of service to the community at the first fundraiser held in late September 2008. Unfortunately he passed away just a few days before the event.



In the meantime so much has happened. We’ve raised over $5,000.00 and created the Lakritz Family Scholarship in honor of Si and Mimi Lakritz. More importantly we awarded our first two scholarships to students graduating from Hanford High School in June 2009.

I’ve included links to more information about the scholarship fund and how our parents had such a vital impact in the community. I know it’s easy for a son to be proud of his parents contributions but I am confident you’ll be as amazed as I was while compiling all this information. In fact, my son Noah was so moved by this scholarship he donated a portion of his Bar Mitzvah money to the fund.

That’s where you can help. Our goal is to raise $50,000.00 over the next five years to ensure this fund will last and to continue the good work of helping the community that my parents began in 1958 when they moved to Hanford to start a new life and raise their family. Click here to download a gift form.

I know it sounds like a large sum of money but the truth is it’s very little. Our daughter Emily is now in college at UC Davis. Believe me when I tell you that these two $1,000.00 scholarships will go a long way to help students in need. Any amount you can give is wonderful, even just a note to support the effort will make a difference.

Thanks for listening and thank you all so much for the love, support, and strength you’ve given us over these past months. With your help 2010 will be a very good year indeed.

With Much Love Always,


Brad, Dena, Emily, Noah, and Mia