April 28, 2008

Dear Friend(s):

Each year with support from its Community Partners ETHAN reaches out to thousands of individuals in East Texas to assist them in accessing the healthcare and social services they need.  The individuals we serve are from all walks of life – some are senior adults living on fixed incomes, some are children whose parents despite their best efforts cannot provide everything their child needs, some are uninsured individuals who work daily to support their families but who do not make enough in wages to afford health insurance or the medications they require to stay healthy and on the job.  Through ETHAN programs we have seen many lives changed for the better. Let me share with you a few of their stories.

§         Mrs. E, 86 years old, fixed income, referred by a home health nurse who discovered her patient to be without heat or food in her home.  Mrs. E had used her entire social security check to repair broken pipes to her water well so she would have running water.  With the support of community partners Mrs. E was provided with propane and her pantry was restocked before the end of the day.  She went to bed that night and for many nights to come warm and well fed.

§         Amanda, 9 years old, member of a family without health insurance or daytime transportation, referred by a local organization, had vision problems.  Amanda needed an eye exam and new eyeglasses.  A school nurse took Amanda for her eye exam and then to ETHAN where she was fitted with new eyeglasses (all paid for by a local civic group).  Amanda, a beautiful, intelligent child told us, “I feel like a princess. With my new glasses I can see”. 

§         Jodi, 35 years old, single working mother, Type 1 Diabetic who with medication and proper diet is able to work and support herself and her child.  When divorce left her without medical insurance Jodi found that she could not afford her medications; medications that if she did not have could mean death.  Referred to the RxMedConnection program for medication assistance by a community partner to date Jodi has received over $6,299 in free medications. 

§         Roy, 73 years old, fixed income, referred by a community member, was paying Medicare premiums he was entitled to have waived.  ETHAN assisted him in obtaining program benefits, which would waive these premiums.  The result, $1,500 reimbursed to him and an annualized cost savings over two years of $13,721.

Fortunately, ETHAN was here to bring together the community partners and services needed to help make a difference in the lives of people like Mrs. E, Amanda and Jodi.  However, due to federal budget cuts, which resulted in a loss of $585,792 in grant funding in 2007 all that could change without your help.  Despite the best efforts of ETHAN staff in identifying and applying for other funding, a deficit of $100,000 remains in funding our 2008 – 2009 Program Budget.  ETHAN has been very successful in taking each dollar it receives in donations and funding and leveraging it to obtain $7 or more in goods and services to assist the more than 5,000 individuals it serves annually. 

Today, you have an opportunity to make a difference in the life of a senior adult, a child, a working family and others in our communities by making a donation that will help to ensure continuation of ETHAN and its programs.   I hope we can count on you to help.  Please send the most generous gift you can.

With grateful appreciation,

Carlene Womack

Executive Director

Encl.  ETHAN Brochure, 2007Annual Program Report, Pledge Card