2020 Annual Appeal Letter

2020 Annual Appeal Letter

Dear Kadampa Center Family, 

Stand before a precipice with a panoramic view of a distant city, spectacular and vast. A vibrant sense of endless opportunities opens before you. From the complexity, inspiration comes into focus. Past efforts have brought you to this present moment and the future lies before you. 

Every moment is a choice that creates our future individually and collectively. In the past we have asked all to:

  • Come to the Table - and you did!

  • Follow Your Heart - and you did!

  • Join the Journey - and you did!

  • Find Your Color? - and you found it!

Today we ask you to Look to the Future! and continue - or even increase your support of Kadampa Center through offering financial sustainer gifts, volunteer services, in-kind goods and your specially dedicated practices that will plant seeds to ensure the success of our precious center.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, we welcome you to the 2020 Annual Appeal. Because of consistent support by sustainers like YOU, we have:   

  • Offered the teachings on a donation basis for 28 years

  • Nurtured a community of monastic and lay teachers including Geshe Gelek, Geshe Sangpo, four nuns and four FPMT registered teachers

  • Created a successful Spiritual Program including classes, visiting teachers, retreats and events held nearly every day of our calendar year, fulfilling our teacher’s wishes 

  • Celebrated 25 years as “Kadampa Center” in 2016

  • Became full owners of the Center’s buildings and land by paying off the mortgage loan this year

  • Celebrated Geshe-la’s 20 years as our Resident teacher

  • Created a center in harmony

  • Supported around 100 practitioners who are incarcerated through letters, prison visits, and gifts of dharma materials through KCPP, Kadampa Center Prison Project

  • Offered unique programming for Children and Families including regular Sunday programs for all ages as well as held 6 Family Dhama Camps

  • Welcomed Lama Zopa Rinpoche and the FPMT family by hosting the Light of the Path residential retreat five times

  • Contributed to hurricane relief, addressed housing and food insecurity in our community, cleaned up the natural environment, and supported newly arrived immigrants 

  • Ignited the curiosity and growth of thousands of spiritual seekers, face to face as well as through streaming and online content

We thank you for the support you have shown in the past and for your presence now. It’s time to ask … “Will you continue your support and consider increasing your gifts to bring Kadampa Center’s future vision to life?” The relationship between Kadampa Center and our members is a mutual one, where we support each other. The teachings and programs offered support all of our spiritual growth. Through financial donations the membership supports the continuing presence of this center in our community.

In an effort to benefit our world, our center and ourselves, Geshe-la has given us a practice to be included in our 2020 annual appeal. This year when you fill out the enclosed pledge form, you may also pledge to do mandala offerings. This is an ancient practice to imagine you are offering universes of real and imagined beauty and goodness to the holy beings and teachers for the benefit of all living beings.

As we stand on the edge of 2020, we take a moment to acknowledge our gratitude for YOU.  As we continue to evolve, we celebrate your engagement with the center and hope that 2020 allows your greater participation and benefit.  And now, Let's Look to the Future together!

With folded hands,

Robbie Watkins
Center Director

Sandy Carlson
President, Board of Directors