Great letter, Erik! And I think Mr. Gates might just respond quite favorably, especially if he knew you were a "young kid" with gumption.

Chris

P.S. Why the hula hoop? How about a power chord to represent the PCs being hooked up at all those new houses? Maybe he could donate those, too...?

> Here's my letter:

> Dear Bill Gates,

> Here is one crisp, new dollar bill.

> This one dollar represents approximately
> .004% of my annual income. I am sending it
> to you in good faith. I am looking for an
> equal donation on a percentage basis from
> your arguably much heavier pocket to help
> some very good people.

> I want you to donate $3,000,000 to our
> Seattle Branch of Habitat for Humanity this
> year.

> We build simple, affordable housing with the
> sweat of volunteers and the generous
> donations of hundreds of small business
> owners across the country. Habitat has built
> over 45,000 homes across the United States
> in the last 23 years.

> I am writing to you, Mr. Gates, because no
> one in our organization has dared to before.
> I am writing to you because I want to
> impress upon you the need our organization
> has for extra resources to build homes.

> We need your $3 million dollar donation for
> the resources to construct 65 new houses for
> families in the Seattle area.

> These families are hard working Americans.
> They are mothers and fathers who want to
> give their kids better lives. They are
> brothers and sisters who simply want the
> same opportunities as their better off
> counterparts. They are families that are
> struggling, but with our help, they will
> have, for the first time in their lives,
> their very own homes.

> The children can grow up in homes, instead
> of moving yearly. They can stay at one
> school for more than a few short years. They
> can grow up and become even more so the good
> people they are.

> And undoubtedly, lifelong Microsoft
> customers. Scratch that, raving fans.

> Please support us with your donation.
> Contact me this week and we can set up an
> appointment to iron out the details. Or just
> send the check to “Habitat for Humanity”
> care of our director, Judy Wells (123 Main
> St. Seattle, WA 55555).

> Sincerely,

> Erik Lukas
> Habitat for Humanity

> P.S. I’m sure I don’t have to explain the
> tax implications of a charitable donation to
> you, but that’s just one more benefit in
> addition to helping so many wonderful
> people.

> (Plus I'll be including a hula hoop as an
> attention grabber)