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Donor Letter

Dear Friends and Family:

I am writing to ask for your support for the 6th Annual Dance for Ana With Love (DFAWL) fundraiser to be held on Saturday April 7, 2018 at CREC Academy of Science and Innovation in New Britain, CT.

This event will be filled with family fun activities centered around dance and movement in honor of Ana Grace Márquez-Greene.  Ana was one of the 20 young children murdered in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting on December 14, 2012 in Newtown, CT.  Her family has described her as an angelic child who loved freely, expressed empathy to all and loved to dance.  Over the last five (5) years, Carla Butler, the founder of the DFAWL FUNdraiser, used dance and a family fun day to honor Ana’s memory. Her Executive Committee raised $50,000.00 to date.  Proceeds benefit the Ana Grace Project founded by Ana’s mother, Nelba Márquez-Greene.

As Nelba Márquez-Greene stated in a television interview with Gayle King, CBS This Morning Show, “there are generally three (3) responses to tragedy: flight, fight or freeze.  Her husband Jimmy added another response – create.”  Jimmy chose to create yielding a Grammy Nominated CD to honor his daughter’s legacy, and Nelba chose to fight.  She decided to dedicate her life to providing resources to spot mental illness that exist in our world before tragedy hits.  The Dance For Ana With Love Committee is committed to supporting her cause.

Not only are we reaching out to our immediate community for assistance, we are reaching out to the nation.  If unable to participate in the daily activities, we welcome prayers, good wishes, sponsors and donations.  But, for all who are able, come out and join us for a day of family fun.  Don’t miss out.  This event will provide lifelong memories for children and their families. For years to come, they will look back on this day and say “I remembered when we danced for Ana with love!!!” When communities come together to laugh, dance, play and love, great things happen, legacies are built and we are reminded that LOVE always WINS.

Mrs. Márquez-Greene has dedicated her life to providing resources for children and families to identify early signs of mental illness, and she seeks to eliminate the stigma associated with it.  Carla Butler and the DFAWL Executive Committee are committed to supporting her mission which is to promote love, community and connection for every child.

Monies raised were used to support a Mental Health Trauma Clinic and a Love Wins Family Resource Center at the Chamberlain School in New Britain, CT.  With the full endorsement of New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart and Superintendent Nancy Sarra, we hope to continue to provide resources for the partner schools in their city.  The attached LINKS will provide additional information about the work of the Ana Grace Project.

Unfortunately, tragedies such as Sandy Hook continue throughout our nation.  Therefore, we are raising funds to support direct services for early detection and treatment of children in distress at local schools as well as to educate teachers and health care professionals in mental illness and violence prevention.  We seek help from the community through corporate sponsorships and individual donors to achieve our fundraising goal of $55,000.00.  Donations are tax deductible.

Please make checks payable to the Ana Grace Project and note Dance for Ana in the memo section.  Checks can be sent to Dance for Ana With Love at P. O. Box 3573, Newtown, CT 06704-9998 or Klingberg Family Centers, 370 Linwood Street, New Britain CT  06052.  Donors will be listed in our E-Program Book.

Thank you so much for your anticipated support for The Ana Grace Project and the Dance for Ana With Love Executive Committee’s Annual Fundraiser.  If you have questions, please contact me at (203) 900 – 4ANA.

Love Wins,

Tracey Butler, Vice Chair
Dance For Ana With Love Executive Committee
Info@dfawlfund.org