Cross Cultural Solutions

November 15, 2004

Dear (general),

I am writing to you because I have just discovered a wonderful opportunity for an overseas experience that is bound to change my life. Cross-Cultural Solutions, a non-profit volunteer organization, offers a program that places volunteers in countries such as India, Ghana, Costa Rica, Brazil, Guatemala, Tanzania, Russia, China, Thailand, and Peru for a variety of community development projects. Cross-Cultural Solutions' mission is to operate volunteer programs around the world in partnership with sustainable community initiatives, bringing people together to work side-by-side while sharing perspectives and fostering cultural understanding. My placement will focus on children, who are an integral part of all societies around the world and providing adequate care for them is becoming an important part of everyday life. I will have the opportunity to teach, learn from, and care for children in an entire community. In addition to the services I can provide in child care my knowledge will enable me to speak on the importance of immunization programs, HIV/AIDS awareness, women's empowerment, etc. in Costa Rica when I return.

Cross-Cultural Solutions is a recognized leader in its field, sending thousands of participants overseas every year and having been profiled in more than 300 news outlets, including Time, Newsweek, USA Today, The New York Times, National Geographic Traveler, CNN, and the ABC Nightly News. They are an independent, registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All Cross-Cultural Solutions programs are run solely by volunteer contributions, and therefore each program has a fee. The fee for this 2 week program, including all meals, lodging, travel medical insurance, and in-country transportation, totals $2,279 and does not include costs associated with obtaining a visa or immunizations or airfare to Costa Rica.

To be able to go on this program, I need financial assistance, which I hope you can help provide. Even monetary support would be greatly appreciated. I hope to be able to raise a total of $3,200 by mid. April, the expected date for my departure being July 9th. If you choose to lend your support to this cause, you'll be pleased to know that all donations are 100% U.S. tax-deductible. If you don't have the money now, you could always post-date a check, or fill out a sponsorship form in which I will get back