Annual Appeal

Dear Friend,

It’s the season of giving... and there are so many needs to be met. Giving to others is also a gift to ourselves – you may have been blessed with the gift of artistic talent, patience, mechanical skills, reasoning, encouragement, understanding, wealth or time – whatever your gift, sharing it with others is what God asks us to do.

At the Mill Neck Family of Organizations, we are blessed with the skills to serve people who are Deaf and/or have other special needs. Thankfully, through your generous gifts over the years, we have helped thousands of individuals realize their full potential, which in turn has provided them with the gifts to go out and serve others. We hope you will once again invest in our mission by making a donation. This, we promise: we’ll make your gift last.

Giving of himself is certainly one of Ebby Johnson's top goals. While a senior at Mill Neck Manor School for the Deaf last year, Ebby interned in an elementary school class, teaching students how to read and draw. "The experience was invaluble. I loved helping my younger peers and seeing their expressions when they learned something," he said. Ebby, who is currently studying theology at North Central University in Minnesota, wants to "help the world and teach people that there are many things that God gives us."

Everything we think of as ours – our bodies and minds and all the material things that make up our lives – has been given to us. The air we breathe and the water we drink are gifts. Everything we do in our work has been taught to us or given to us by someone else. All work, all business, is centered around giving – we give food, goods, services and comfort.

1969 Mill Neck Manor graduate Eugene Baake has beensharing his talents on the Mill Neck Manor campus for 41 years. Eugene works on campus for the school's buildings and grounds department with the help of Mill Neck Services. Whether driving the tractor, preparing for the Fall Harvest Festival or repairing equipment, Eugene takes pride in his work and says he "loves his job today just as much as he did over 40 years ago. I appreciate the support I receive from Mill Neck Manor. I am lucky to work here."

Also working on campus is Daniel Almazan, who attended Mill Neck Manor’s Early Childhood Center about 18 years ago at age 4. Now 22, Daniel does administrative tasks in the office at Mill Neck Services and says “he enjoys working and feels good about his job.” Currently studying sign language in college, Daniel volunteered and shared his new skills with children attending Mill Neck Foundation’s Sign Language Camp for Hearing Kids.

We remember, at this time of the year, the most important gift ever given – the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ – and how we, these many centuries later, are the beneficiaries of that gift.

We are so grateful to you, and so many others, who have provided us with gifts that keep us serving generation after generation. As a result, the Mill Neck Family has grown into several distinct related organizations. In fact, these organizations have grown to the point where we will celebrate several important anniversaries in 2011:

• Mill Neck Manor School for the Deaf - 60 years
• Mill Neck Manor Early Childhood Center - 20 years
• Mill Neck Services - 25 years

These milestones are made possible by the Grace of God and your gifts. Your continued support is important to ensure that the Mill Neck Family stays financially strong and able to continue the important work of helping God’s people who are Deaf and/or have other
special communication needs.

Please make your tax-deductable, online contribution today to benefit the Mill Neck Family of Organizations. I thank you and wish you and your family a most glorious Christmas Season. And in the New Year, may you continue to use the gifts, talents and abilities with which He has chosen to bless you.

In His Name,

Mark R. Prowatzke, Ph.D.
Executive Director