David Biagini Creative Arts

Homelessness Hurts Everyone

You can help if you act now

You and I see it every day. We see the homeless situation getting worse. But we don’t always see a solution. Yet there is one – and you can be part of it.

Imagine freeway ramps and creek sides free of homeless encampments.

Imagine approaching street intersections without being asking for food, money, or shelter.

Imagine lives being rebuilt and dignity restored.

You can make this happen. How? By donating $5 now to Fresh Start Community Services.

Let me explain how Fresh Start Community Services is different and why your donation could be the most important thing you’ve ever done – for yourself and your community.

I’d like you to meet Angela. Angela thought it would never happen to her. She never thought she would ever be homeless – never in a million years. But it did happen to her. She went from a good accounting job to sleeping in cardboard boxes along Penitencia Creek.

She and her faithful dog, Sonny, shivered in the rain and cold and searched for cooling shade from the relentless summer sun. She begged for food and when that didn’t work she scrounged through trash bins for something to eat.

Yes, she was offered shelter by many different agencies. But it was always the same story: we can take you but we can’t take your pet. What? If you’ve ever had a pet you know they become part of your family. In this case, Sonny was the only family she had. Would you give up part of your family? No, I wouldn’t either.

So, Angela and Sonny continued to live on the streets as their health and spirits declined. Until someone from Fresh Start Community Services saw her climbing into a trash dumpster and offered to take her to their shelter. Angela broke into tears when she was told she could keep Sonny with her.

Angela not only received shelter, but she also received medical care, nutritious meals and most importantly job training and placement services. She now has another good accounting job, her own apartment, and hope for the future. Oh, and she still has Sonny.

You will no doubt be asked many times to donate to a good cause – and there are many good causes out there. But as you can see from Angela’s story, your donation to Fresh Start Community Services will help rebuild lives – and rebuild them with dignity.

From: Bay Area Renaissance Music Society

Subject: Don’t lose your exclusive membership benefits

Dear <Member>,

Rebirth is in the air

It’s time for the Bay Area Renaissance Music Society’s annual rebirth. Memberships in our 2019-2020 season are now open! I promise you another season of outstanding performances of great music from one of the most creative periods in human history.

Experience what others don’t

Do you recall how quickly last season’s Jessica Gould concert sold out? Many wanted to attend the most significant Renaissance music performance of the year but couldn’t. Once the concert was announced tickets sold out in a matter of hours. I had many people come to me saying if they had only known about the concert earlier they could have purchased tickets before they sold out.

As a Bay Area Renaissance Music Society member, this didn’t happen to you – you received advanced notice virtually guaranteeing you the opportunity to be among the lucky few to attend the amazing Jessica Gould concert. Will we ever forget her sublime rendition of the Thomas Champion ayre? I don’t think so!

Get your favorite seats

As a member, you also received first choice of tickets. You didn’t have to worry about someone else taking your seats. New for 2019-2020 is our season package. When you sign up for the season package your favorite seats are reserved for every concert!

Ready to be considered an expert?

One more thing, I hope you enjoyed last season’s periodic newsletter, “Renaissance Rebirth”, as much as I did. As serious music lovers, we appreciate how our enjoyment is enhanced by a deeper knowledge of the work, composer, and performer.

For example, I didn’t know that the late-Renaissance French patron Cardinal Jules Mazzarin was actually an Italian immigrant named Giulio Mazzarino until I read it in “Renaissance Rebirth”. My friends were amazed when I told them the story of his rise to power and now they view me as an “expert” on all things Renaissance. Well, there are worse things, aren’t there?

Don’t give up these benefits – sign up for the 2019-2020 season!

I know our members are fiercely dedicated to Renaissance music and are always willing to do more than their part to insure that the Bay Area continues to enjoy this unique music. I’m asking you to remain part of our special group and renew your tax-deductible membership today. Just tap here to renew. Membership in the 2019-2020 season is only $29.95 and don’t forget, members receive a 15% discount on all tickets!

And I’ll let you in on a little secret – Jessica Gould is coming back!

Sincerely,

Thomas Tallis
President
Bay Area Renaissance Music Society

P.S. Want to do more? We need you! Like everyone else here at BARMS, I am a volunteer. All of us here are passionate about Renaissance music and are committed to keeping it alive and well in the Bay Area. Sign up here to join us.