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Officers: 
Chairman 
Dave Phillips

James B. Hunt Jr. 
Governor, North Carolina

Honorary Chairman
Michael Jordan

Honorary Chairman
Arnold Palmer

Vice Chairman
Grant Hill

Vice Chairman
Jim Goodmon

President
Dr. LeRoy Walker

Chief Executive Officer
 Joe Freddoso

Chairman's Cabinet

Crandall Bowles
Joseph Bryan, Jr.
Julia and Frank Daniels 
Ida and Bill Friday
Ann and Jim Goodnight 
Charlotte and Phillip Hanes
Dick Jenrette
Thomas Kenan
Christy and John Mack
Jane and Hugh McColl
Emily and Rich Preyer 
Josie and Julian Robertson
Mary and Jim Semans
Jane and Earl Slick
Meredith and Dick Spangler 
Nancy and David Stonecipher

4000 West Chase Blvd.
Suite 325 
Raleigh, NC 27601
919.831.1999
Web site: www.99games.com

 

  

Dear Neighbor,

 

You know us as accomplished athletes on the soccer field and basketball court. But today, we'd like to tell you about athletes whose accomplishments leave us truly humbled and inspired. Athletes like Cameron Thomas. Kristi Luft.  And Ricky Oney.

 

Sure, their names probably aren't familiar to you. But believe us, their stories will fill your heart - as they have ours - and renew your belief in the human spirit

 

But first, there's a very important reason WHY we've chosen this occasion to relate their stories to you.

 

Because right now, businesses like yours all across the region are coming together to give something very special to athletes like Cameron, Kristi and Ricky - something that is the most precious gift any athlete can ever get: THE CHANCE TO COMPETE.

 

Through generous donations, business leaders like you are covering the costs for athletes to participate in the 1999 Special Olympics World Summer Games taking place right here in North Carolina.

 

From June 26 to July 4,1999, more than 7,000 athletes with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities from 150 countries will compete in Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill.

 

Sure, it's big - in fact, it's the world's biggest sporting event of 1999. But what's desperately needed from North Carolina companies like yours is ATHLETE SPONSORSHIPS that help to cover the cost of housing, meals, transportation, and other services for the athletes.

 

And believe us, once you get to know these special athletes, you'll WANT to become an athlete sponsor. Let us tell you some of their stories...

 

Cameron Thomas, Age 11, Charlotte, North Carolina

 

Born seven-and-a-half weeks premature with Down syndrome, Cameron wasn't expected to live. But next summer, she'll be a member of the USA Gymnastics Team at the 1999 Special Olympics World Games. Recently, at the 1998 Special Olympics North Carolina Summer Games, Cameron's performance on the balance beam earned her a gold medal. And she won silver in uneven parallel bars, floor exercises, and in the all-around competition. When it comes to describing Cameron's competitive spirit, her mom says it all: "My daughter had to fight hard when she was a baby. And she's fighting now. It's phenomenal."

 

Kristi Luft, Age 19, Lexington, Kentucky

 

Every lap Kristi swims for Special Olympics Team USA is a miracle. Until she was six- and-a-half years old, Kristi was a normal, healthy child. Then one evening, she began to behave oddly. By the next morning, she could not speak. Within one month, Kristi lost all comprehension. Kristi was diagnosed with Laundau-Kleffner syndrome, a seizure disorder that affects language and behavior. After many, many years of treatments and, eventually, brain surgery, Kristi is seizure free but still faces a lot of challenges. Despite these challenges, Kristi has beaten incredible odds to make it to the Special Olympics World Summer Games in 1999.

 


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About this letter... I was recruited by Special Olympics to help with fundraising by putting together a Direct Mail campaign. I selected one of the best copywriters I know, who volunteered to help too.

We were under a tight deadline to get this letter in place so I asked the copywriter to deliver it to me no matter where I was.  It came when I was in a client meeting. By the second page, tears were streaming down my face.

You can imagine my client's reaction. I shared the letter with everyone in the meeting. The room went silent.  Then the CEO announced they'd be a $5,000 sponser.

I never changed a word.

The Special Olympics Marketing Officer later offered the copywriter and me seats to the Opening Games Ceremony.  When he told me how much the letter generated, my eyes filled with tears again. I didn't write this letter, but it's one I'm most proud of.