Hello Friends & Family!

I’m taking my love for community service to new ‘heights,’ literally! On April 28, 2007, I’m headed to Chippewa Falls where I’ll be participating in the nation’s boldest, highest-altitude, and most daring effort to put an end to violence against women. It’s called Operation Freefall™: The Two-Mile High Stand Against Sexual Assault™. I’ll be joining thousands of people at skydive centers across the country who will take to the sky and jump, to raise awareness and money to put an end to sexual assault and violence against women.

I know…you’re thinking, “You’re not a skydiver!” or “Aren’t you afraid of heights?”  Well, you’re totally right. I’ve never been skydiving before, and I am bit afraid of heights. But, don’t worry. I’ll be making a tandem jump, a.k.a. diving with a professionally licensed tandem master from the United States Parachute Association. As for the heights thing, I’ve conquered my fear at amusement parks. Now, I’m ready to conquer my fear of heights for good.  If you don’t think I can do this, I’ll prove to you that I can and will show you the video I’ll receive as a souvenir of my jump. Or, you can come watch me jump yourself!

Seriously, though, participating in Operation Freefall will help the national organization, Speaking Out About Rape, Inc.™ (SOAR™), and local organizations supporting victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, the Bolton Refuge House and the Family Support Center . Funds raised will enable these organizations to:

 

Ø      Extend efforts to provide prevention, recovery, and prosecution information to tens of millions of people, including your community, each year.

Ø      Expand SOAR’s programs to educate lawmakers, police officers, students and the media about sexual assault.

Ø      Enhance local services for survivors of domestic and sexual violence.

Since this cause is very important to me and it’s one of my last fund raising events before I graduate (again), I’ve agreed to try and raise at least $600 before March 15 in order to make the jump, and I REALLY NEED YOUR HELP! Please consider making a tax-deductible pledge to help me meet my goal. I'll be skydiving from at least 10,500 feet. You can donate a specific amount per foot or designate any amount that’s right for you.

• 1/4-cent per foot: $26.40  
• 1/2-cent per foot: $52.80
• A penny per foot: $105.60
• Two cents per foot: $211.20
• A nickel per foot: $528

You can donate online using a credit card on this page.  Or, you can give the form and donation to me the next time I see you or mail it to me at the address below.

The FBI categorizes rape as the second most violent crime a person can experience, second only to murder. To put it another way, it’s the most violent and traumatic crime any victim lives to remember. Every two minutes, another American is sexually assaulted. It is the most under-reported of all crimes in the U.S . There are also thousands of victims of domestic violence who suffer silently each year. That is why I’ve committed myself to this event.

I hope you’ll share in this incredible adventure by supporting me in my fundraising efforts. Of course, if you want to jump, too, let me know and I’ll get you registration materials.

Thank you in advance for your generosity.

Hoping for Blue Skies, 

Amanda Gallagher

1237 S. Dewey St., Apt. 209
Eau Claire, WI 54701
Email: gallagal@uwec.edu