A special birthday!

Please join us as we celebrate!

(A letter from CRI Associate Coordinator Mike Leonard)

Dear Friends,

When I met Mack McCarter, my goal in life was to retire from practicing dentistry and play the Top 100 golf courses in the United States. (That’s how deep I am). Little did I know, that “chance” meeting would be the pivot point of my life. God used Mack to help me in ways I am only beginning to understand. Five years ago I left the security of my dental career to come work at Community Renewal full time. These last five years have truly been the best of my life, and though I still enjoy an occasional round of golf, thank God that is not all I will have to show for my life at the end. I will be eternally grateful to Mack for his helping me connect to something much larger than myself.

You may not know that in 1994 Mack ventured into one of our city’s most dangerous neighborhoods and started knocking on doors. Friends called him foolish, but Mack ignored their fears and went anyway. His goal: restore the foundation of caring communities, like those he knew as a child growing up in Shreveport. Since Mack founded CRI, we have seen crime drop an average of 22 percent in our target neighborhoods, have welcomed nearly 2,500 youth into our Friendship Houses and have trained almost 1,100 residents to serve as Haven House block leaders in neighborhoods citywide. Also, Community Renewal has significantly improved thousands of lives for 16 years.

Mack turned 65 on March 5, 2010. In honor of that milestone birthday, I would like for you to celebrate his birthday with me and the rest of our team. I am asking you to consider an over-and-above gift to Community Renewal during this 65-day campaign. We will use this gift as a challenge for major partners to match—doubling your donation. Please consider making your gift between March 5th and May 9th. You can donate easily and quickly online by clicking on the Donate button on the left side of the page.

Every person has a role to play in the renewal of community. Help us celebrate Mack’s birthday in a way he would want — an honorarium to the mission of CRI. By doing so, you will help us make this community and our world a home where every single child is safe and loved.

Mike