Two donations matched. Four cheques, $10,000 each. And this morning, the Times Colonist Christmas Fund stands just shy of $231,000, less than two weeks after we launched the 2020 drive.
Thank you, thank you. Every donor is making a difference in the lives of those who need a helping hand this Christmas season.
Our Super Tuesday started with a $10,000 match for the $10,000 the Victoria Foundation offered last week. The donor wishes to remain anonymous — and you will notice a trend here.
Another anonymous donor offered another $10,000, as long as it was matched by someone else. And that someone else, who also asked to remain anonymous, called in with a credit card number, and we had the match.
The fund grew by $40,000 in a matter of minutes, and then we opened the mail. In all these years — the fund was launched in 1956 — we had never seen a $50,000 day. We had our first on Tuesday.
Again, thank you. And a reminder that these match challenges do not have to involve big numbers, because every donation counts.
This reminder comes from someone who also wishes to remain anonymous, saying that we should just identify them as “Cherry Point Fortunate One.”
“I don’t quite know how these challenges work, but I am retired and doing OK,” this donor says. “I will donate $100 and double that if 10 more people donate $100.
“It seems a little lame compared to some of these challenges but it is what is comfortable,” our anonymous donor says.
It’s not lame at all.
It’s heartwarming, and it is appreciated.
Please don’t disappoint this person. We need 10 people to donate $100, and please mention “Cherry Point” so we can keep track.
Our goal this year is $700,000. We have already given money to the Salvation Army and the Mustard Seed Street Church, and soon we will offer help to other organizations throughout our readership area.
The easiest way to give is to go to timescolonist.com/donate. That will take you to the Canada Helps website, which is open 24 hours a day and provides an immediate tax receipt.
Or mail a cheque, payable to the Times Colonist Christmas Fund Society, to the Times Colonist Christmas Fund, 201-655 Tyee Road, Victoria V9A 6X5.
Or use your credit card by phoning 250-995-4438 between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., Monday through Friday. Outside those hours, messages will be accepted.
dobee@timescolonist.com
