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The current economic conditions have proven challenging for many families and businesses and NOFAS is no exception. We are working overtime this holiday season and into the New Year to increase our reach and the number of families we are helping despite having fewer resources. If you are able to make a year-end contribution, whether it is $25 or any amount you can afford, it would be very meaningful to NOFAS and an excellent investment. You can make a secure PayPal or credit card contribution at Donate to NOFAS.
As you know, NOFAS is the only national organization addressing alcohol and pregnancy, the leading known preventable cause of mental retardation and birth defects, and a leading cause of learning and behavioral problems among adolescents, teens and adults. Fortunately, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) are 100% completely preventable if women abstain from alcohol consumption during pregnancy. This year even with reduced funding NOFAS has managed to link more children and families to the medical and mental health services they desperately need and advocate on behalf of more children in educational and transitional settings and in adoptive and foster care.
NOFAS fields thousands of requests for referrals, information and support each year. Concerned women who realized they consumed alcohol before they knew they were pregnant and families seeking resources for a child with intellectual disabilities are among the most common appeals that NOFAS receives every day.
Your support will be invaluable to NOFAS and those we serve. A tax-deductible contribution to NOFAS is a good investment because ninety-four cents of every dollar goes directly to our programs, not to management or fundraising. NOFAS programs also focus on prevention and save money. Our programs help to identify risks and intervene before chronic progressive health problems like alcohol dependence among women and behavioral and learning problems among children progress thereby reducing the need for costly health care. Most importantly, raising awareness to the risk of FASD and preventing one pregnant woman from drinking could protect the heath of a child and save nearly $1 million in the cost of care over that child’s lifetime. There is also a growing interest in addressing FASD and you can be on the front lines of the promise of prevention.
Here is a menu of services that you can support with your generous contribution:
$25 – Respond to five specific requests to the NOFAS clearinghouse
$50 – Place a public service announcement on one local television station
$75 – Integrate the NOFAS curriculum in one K-12 classroom
$100 – Train one doctor to diagnose and treat FASD
$150 – Educate one medical student to fully address FASD in clinical settings
$500 – Screen every woman for alcohol use during pregnancy at a participating NOFAS
Community Health Clinic for a full day
$1,000 – Sponsor the 2009 NOFAS Leadership Awards Benefit
All contributions to NOFAS are tax-deductible and donors will be listed on the NOFAS website and organization materials such as our annual report. Please make your contribution today by following this link, Donate to NOFAS
Thank you for your generous support and all of us at NOFAS wish you a wonderful 2009!
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