Every year, since 1998, we have hosted a Celebrate Hope Banquet at an area Hotel, to kick off our Celebrate Hope Campaign, for the Mission's annual budget. This year’s goal is to raise three million dollars by January 15, 2007, half of the year’s budget, so that we might continue to provide for the poor and homeless in Kansas City.

After many discussions we have decided we don’t need to have a banquet for ourselves. You came to our banquets because you have a heart for what City Union Mission is doing for the poor and homeless. The costs of hosting a banquet have continued to escalate out of proportion. We want to use all the resources God provides to the fullest.

That's why I think you'll be excited about what we are proposing for the next launch of our 'Celebrate Hope Banquet.' We will have our very first Banquet for the Homeless, Celebrate Hope: Giving hands Give Hope!

You will be able to join us September 18th through the 22nd either by calling in or by going to our website at www.CityUnionMission.org for banquet highlights. We will still be sharing with you the same quality content as in past years, including testimonies, ministry updates, and award recipients, but without the added expense of renting a location, and the associated speaker and audiovisual costs. It's a way for you and your friends to provide hope to Kansas City's poor and homeless without additional unnecessary expense.

An invitation will soon be in your mail to explain all the details concerning our unique banquet.  But in the meantime we want you to know that ticket prices are $30 a place. And this year we have several wonderful ways to express our appreciation:

• In receipt of 2 tickets purchased we will send you a 4 X 6, suitable for framing copy, of "Giving Hands," a Giving USA Foundation award-winning photo by our own Dennis Chapman, Associate Executive Director of Development.
  
• A 5 X 7 framed copy will be given in receipt of 4 tickets purchased.
  
• Table Sponsors of $500 or more will receive a framed 8 X 10 copy, ready for display in your home or office.

We hope that you will be as excited as we are about our first Banquet for the Homeless, Celebrate Hope: Giving Hands Give Hope!

Thank you in advance for supporting City Union Mission’s Celebrate Hope Campaign 2006!

In His Service,



Rev. Daniel J. Doty
Executive Director

Luke 14:12-14
And He also went on to say to the one who had invited Him, "When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, otherwise they may also invite you in return and that will be your repayment.  But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.