October 2009

Dear Friends,

NAAM is well into its 2nd year of being open to the public and I hope you agree that this is a resource worth supporting. Fall is upon us and with it comes our Annual Fund Drive. I invite you to contribute to NAAM as a community stakeholder in this visionary project.

NAAM’s ability to continue to offer exciting, relevant exhibitions and programs depends on your support. Our educational school tours top the list of NAAM’s vital programs and continue to bring in hundreds of students to see and experience our shared history.

Often I am asked how much government funding NAAM receives and I continue to clarify that NAAM stands on its own as an independent private non-profit agency: less than 3% of NAAM's operating revenue comes from government sources. Your donation today will also help us meet our Bill & Melinda Gates Challenge grant – we are getting closer to our goal of raising $100,000 – please help us meet this crucial 1 to 1 matching grant before the end of the year.

Many of you contributed to NAAM after personally experiencing the array of beautifully hand crafted quilts from our own Pacific Northwest African American Quilters in “The Stories that Cover Us” exhibit that recently closed. Our fall offerings will be no less engaging. We invite you to join us on November 14 for the opening of the exhibition “East by Northwest: A New African American Experience”. This exhibition promises to be a thought provoking and intimate look into the lives and journeys of recent immigrants from East Africa who now make their home in the Pacific Northwest.

Last but not least, please encourage your friends to become members of NAAM - if you're a NAAM member already, please forward this newsletter to a friend and encourage them to join. We've recently lowered the cost of membership to encourage widespread membership - help us show potential funders that you and others in our communities care about NAAM!

With gratitude,

Barbara Earl Thomas
Executive Director