September 2021

Dear Members and Friends,

2020 and 2021 have been challenging, enlightening, and perhaps anxious years for all of us.  The pandemic has forced us into an isolation that is unprecedented in our lifetime.  For many of us the gratitude we feel at being able to meet again is profound.  In the past eighteen months our Los Angeles Branch meetings and activities were greatly curtailed, but if you received your autumn calendar you know that activities are resuming in earnest.

We are reaching out to you at this time because our Branch is facing another challenge, one that is mandated by our government.  As many of you know our Branch is very fortunate for two reasons: there are very few Anthroposophical branches in the United States that own their own building in which to meet, hear lectures, see Eurythmy performances, and hold study groups. And, we are also especially privileged in having rental property that helps us pay for maintenance and repairs on our building, so we don’t need to be constantly fundraising.  This is a real blessing! 

As a Not-For-Profit organization we qualify for tax exemption only if we can demonstrate that we receive a minimum of $10,000 in donations annually.  We do this through membership dues and admission donations to our branch activities. Because we have been shuttered for more than eighteen months, we have a significant “fundraising” shortfall. Our estimated Property Tax could be approximately $8,750 or more each year if we don’t meet the $10,000 donation requirement.  

We are appealing to you to help us raise $10,000 and avoid paying $8,750 in taxes. Realistically, it is only us, members and friends, who find value in the programs and community that our Branch provides. The funds that are contributed will be used for programming.  We could direct the money to bring in speakers like Craig Holdrege from the Nature Institute, or Brian Gray from Wise Cosmos, or Christine Gruwez, author and lecturer. We could use the money we all contribute to fund a conference on meditation, medicine or Bio-Dynamics.  The important thing is that we all benefit from each other’s generosity.  Instead of paying taxes we will be joining together to provide spiritual nourishment for the cultural environment of Los Angeles.

Anthroposophy helps make sense of what is happening in the world. If you find yourself frustrated because you don’t know how to help overcome the overwhelming challenges we are facing, this is our opportunity to make a difference.  If you find benefit from listening to speakers, participating in Eurythmy, exchanging ideas, coming together for Festivals, and being in a community of spiritual seekers, please consider making a gift to the Anthroposophical Foundation of California today.   Your gift will absolutely make a difference!

Because this appeal is so important, we are asking each of us to consider donating between $35 - $150 before December 15th, 2021.

It is easy to donate:

Online: Go to our Donate page.

By check:  Please make checks payable to the Anthroposophical Foundation of California, and mail to our branch at 110 Martin Alley, Pasadena CA 91105.

Thank you for your warm enthusiasm for your Anthroposophical Branch, and for joining in building a Spiritual Cultural Community with your tax-deductible gift.

Sincerely,

Bari Borsky, Linda Connell, Lori Daub, Samuel Glaze, Joan Jaeckel, Roman Janczak, Eloise Krivosheia, Roger Rindge, and Anne Saldo

Trustees for the Anthroposophical Foundation of California