This is An Open Invitation to Help Me, Help
Is there a specific plan behind my writing? Is there a greater purpose in place? I am writing to find that inner voice inside of myself. My intention is to connect with that creative force within that creates best selling books and programs that will help people change their lives. I also want to help people help other people. Together we can change the entire world one person at a time. Writing is one of the tools that I have chosen to use toward that end. The goal is for me to become a better writer everyday. I want to become the best writer that I can possibly be in order to effectively communicate ideas, concepts and explain systems and success strategies. It takes practice, however, to become more than one might be. I'm up to it though. I have got to work at it day in and day out. It is a life-changing process to push myself in this way, but I know that to be able to change the lives of others, I must first change my own. And so on I push.
To build and accomplish great things in life, one must have a very motivating and powerful WHY--a reason that is so compelling that one can leap tall buildings in a single bound. What is my WHY? You would be correct to assume that to push myself in this way I would have to be divinely inspired. I am. The idea to write a book has come to me over the past couple of years. Over time the idea has turned into a dream and the dream has developed into a goal. Yes! I have finally disciplined myself and have taken the dynamic action required in order to make my goal into a reality. I diligently put my nose to the grindstone day in and day out to bring this goal to fruition. The fruits of my efforts are already evident and my vision of becoming a published author is well on its way.
I write with a very specific purpose in mind as write this message to you. You need to really hear me. There is much more at stake here than just my desire to become a published author. I ask now that you hang in here with me on this. It's very important. I ask that you push yourself beyond most people's typical attention span. Please focus on what I am communicating to you. We are all in need of assistance from time to time. I usually do not ask for help. Wait. Let me change that. While I seldom ask for any personal favors, I will ask and ask often for help for the Lupus Foundation of which I am the treasurer.
The Lupus Foundation serves a mighty purpose in this world. It exists solely for the many people who need help and perhaps cannot ask for themselves. I am truly honored to be able to ask for them. Help! The CDC reports that lupus affects an estimated 239,000 (conservatively) people in the United States. About nine out of 10 people who have lupus are women. Approximately one third of deaths occur among men and women younger than 45. During 1979-1998, the annual number of deaths from lupus rose from 879 to 1,406 and the crude death rate increased from 39 to 52 per million population, with a total of 22,861 deaths reported during this 20-year period. Help! Please recognize here and now that my life's mission is not solely focused on creating books or a brand for myself. There is a real purpose behind my plan. My goal is also to make Michigan's Lupus Foundation into a household name and help countless lupus survivors in the process.
Lupus must be combated. This can and will happen with your assistance. I am looking for individual and corporate sponsors to help me publish my book, Life Behind Invisible Bars. The total cost for development, production, marketing and advertising will be around 10K. This is a very modest figure considering what it takes within the scope of writing and publishing a book. What's more is that this is a book that will no doubt touch the hearts, minds and lives of people all over this country. All profits from the book will go directly to the Latreese Nicole Fagan Memorial Scholarship Foundation . This foundation came to be because of a loving, intelligent, beautiful, hard-working and ambitious young woman named Latreese Nicole Fagan. She was a lovely young woman and a beautiful spirit who has inspired the founders to build the Lupus Foundation as a memorial to her short but very meaningful life.
Life Behind Invisible Bars, will focus on helping people to achieve success despite the barriers or bars that surround and try to hold them back. This book will incorporate and bring together a body of important information, education, resources and unique features. It will serve as a blueprint for success as it chronicles my own path through challenges, over obstacles, around problems, under barriers and on to success. This book will show every reader that there is absolutely nothing that can stop a person if he or she will just hold on and keep on keeping on—day in and day out. As Zig Ziglar puts it, "Failure is an event—not a person."
There will also be special bonus chapters included in the book that will feature the words of some extremely successful friends of mine who have graciously agreed to donate their expertise and knowledge of success systems and wealth attainment for this worthy cause. Trust me, these stellar individuals are at the top of their games. An hour consultation with any one of them would run into the thousands of dollars because, the information, insight and advice that they have to share is the STUFF of dreams and true transformation. Every reader will be able to take something solid and life altering from this book. It will change lives!
In addition to the bonus chapters provided by my exemplary friends, there will be the poignant story of how The Latreese Nicole Fagan Scholarship Fund was created. Make no mistake, this is an important story that desperately needs to be told because, as quiet as it is kept, the death rate among African American women ages 45-64 years has increased seventy five percent (75%), and more than one-third of all deaths from SLE occurred among persons less than forty-five (45) years of age. Lupus is three times more common in black women than in white women. It is also more common in women of Hispanic/Latina, Asian, and American Indian descent. Black and Hispanic/Latina women tend to develop symptoms at an earlier age than other women. African Americans have more severe organ problems, especially with their kidneys. This book will not allow what is happening with lupus to be kept quiet any longer. Lupus will be exposed with this book.
This powerful book will also help current lupus survivors and their families to better understand the why, how and the 'what' of dealing with lupus. They will be able to read about what dealing with the disease has meant for other lupus patients and their loved ones. It will offer support, provide them with a way to reach out to one another and let them know that they are not alone. Life Behind Invisible Bars, will let lupus survivors and their families know that people really do care.
The Lupus Foundation has been a labor of love not only for myself but also due to the close nit relationship I was blessed to share with Latreese. She was my cousin, but Latreese was more like the sister that I never had. She was and is an angel in my life. Everyone who was fortunate enough to know Latreese will attest to the same. My dear mother and Latreese were far more than mere relatives. They were the best of friends. During the course of any given day, my mother would often pause and say, "I need to go and see how my Tricie is doing." Soon after she'd uttered the words my mother would be off to see Latreese. They shared a very special bond.
The ironic thing about my mother's and Latreese's relationship is that they passed away exactly one year apart from one another. Get this; they both passed away in the month of May. My mother was buried in May of 2000. Latreese passed away the following year in the month of May and on the very same day of the month. They are both my angels and this project is a labor of my undying love for them both. It is also a labor of my love for all of the beautiful hearts and souls out there that have been and will be affected by lupus. I want us to help those people. I know that my mother and Latreese would want us to help them. Will you help me help them?
Help! I need your help to offset the cost of producing this book. Your donation of any size will be greatly appreciated. I am asking you to please get out of your shell and rise from your comfort zone. You can make a difference. We can make a difference in the lives of so many precious people. I send letters and emails of encouragement to let you know the many strategies and resources available for you in this world if you decide you want it bad enough. I freely give all of my knowledge and expertise to you. I want you to succeed. I've proven that. Today there are people counting on you to decide that you are going to make a difference and give of yourself to help someone else. Whether you can donate $25.00 or $2500.00, it will all be used toward further development of the vital work of The Lupus Foundation.
Most of us have heard of Jerry's Kids or The American Cancer Foundation, but most have never heard of the LatreeseFagan.org Lupus Foundation . This is not because the other foundations are doing anything better or more meaningful than the Lupus Foundation is doing. It is due to lack of education, lack of exposure and to a huge degree, lack of funding. FUNDING is always the key to getting resources in place to help those facing a debilitating and deadly disease like lupus. Again, the death rate among African American women ages 45-64 years has increased seventy five percent (75%), and more than one-third of all deaths from SLE occurred among persons less than forty-five (45) years of age.
We need funding to fight lupus. It's that plain. It's that simple. When I look within my heart I see a vision of Latreese and what this foundation is doing to honor her memory by helping other lupus survivors. I know that she would be so pleased that we are helping people with lupus through scholarships, education and information. She was a very hard-working student and studied throughout her life to excel academically. There are many young women appreciate Latreese who would like the same opportunity to succeed. So please find it is your heart to assist us with this very worthy project to fund The Lupus Foundation here in Michigan. There are NO paid employees and there is NO compensation for meetings—well, sometimes we do get some great chicken wings during our monthly meetings. Seriously, it is a labor of love for everyone involved.
This project will happen. This is your opportunity to be a part of something that will affect the lives of thousands of patients suffering from this excruciatingly debilitating disease. Are the people affected and who will be affected with lupus worth the effort and concern? Do you feel that more people should know about lupus? Can you see how much good a project like this will do? Have you ever wanted to really be an important part of something bigger than yourself? Will you help me help?
The deadline for this book is January 1,2008. Time is short. We know that in life it is better to give than to receive. Without a shadow of a doubt, I know that I will be blessed for serving this cause. What I am working to accomplish is going to touch people's hearts and save people's lives. This is an opportunity for you to touch people's hearts and save people's lives. You too will be a blessing and therefore blessed. What we work to manifest through God, here and now with this book, will continue to grow long after you and I have passed away. That's just how POWERFUL this is.
Please fight any temptation to just toss this request aside as so many do when it comes to donations. I know that it's a challenge. I have a family. I have bills. Believe me, I understand. I hear you saying, "Man money is tight! I can't afford to help others." Yes, you can. Can I afford to take my focus off of YTB and real estate and finances? No—but YES I CAN! Actually, what we can't afford is to block our blessings. I know how giving and receiving work in this world. We must plant seeds. I can almost guarantee that you will receive back at least twice the amount that you donate to this cause. Yes, you are going to receive back everything you give and then you are going to get double for your trouble. That's just how it works when you give.
I am willing to do one better. I am willing to work for it. If you need your grass cut, house cleaned, repair your credit for free, (you heard me!) I will do it. I am committed to this cause. I will do whatever it takes to help life-changing project to become a reality. I am asking that you think about what you can really afford to give. If all you can donate to this cause is $25.00, that's fine. I just request that you give what you can and please let other caring folks know about what we are doing. Ask five of your closest friends to give with you. Whatever you do, please just find time in your busy schedule to give to a good cause.
I am giving of my time and money to make this a reality. Move out of your comfort zone please. Find out how much your friends or family members have to donate to this cause. I know for a fact that many of us have seen the 9 th installment of "The Pirates of the Caribbean" or even the newly released, "Why Did I Get Married?" Many of us went out after watching the picture; we ate, laughed and talked about how talented Tyler Perry is. Maybe you went to work the next day and openly discussed aspects of the movie. Many cast their votes as to whether they like it or not. Listen. It doesn't matter whether you liked the movie or not or if you have any idea why you got married. The movie created a conversation. (Just getting you to talk about the film is the result of hidden sales techniques by the way. When I come back to you for YTB.com next week we'll discuss some of that. This will all be in addition to getting a very worthwhile book published. Actually, this will help you to start to find your own voice.)
You, yes you can make a difference today if you decide to. Just take action! Call me. E-mail me. Visit our site for a donation form at: http://www.latreesefagan.org
Tell your friends, family and co-workers about what is being done here in Michigan with the LatreeseFagan.org Foundation . Tell them about our fast approaching deadline for a cause that will help countless people forced to deal with an awful disease that is affecting so many people. Help!
Help me to do something positive that will ultimately be a blessing for us all. Sure, Brittany, her antics and her visitation rights may out-rate this cause in the daily news and gossip columns, but when real history is examined and reviewed, it is causes like this that will make a lasting impression on the world. Let's do something that really matters.
I appreciate you for taking the time to read this letter. I thank you in advance for any donations that will help us make this happen.
All donations are 100% tax deductible.
Please Send All Donation to
Makes Checks or Money Orders
LNFMSF / LatreeseFagan.org/
LNFMSF, Inc.
P.O. Box 19370
Detroit, MI 48219
http://www.latreesefagan.org
Pay Pal Donations Accepted
313-531-9922
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