Boston Building Project Update February 2008

Update Introduction Project Information Make a Pledge How to Donate Building Criteria

Dear Friend,

We have wonderful news to share with you: $222,000 has been raised for the Building Project to establish a permanent Center for Master’s work in the Boston area! Your initial response to our fundraising appeal is deeply appreciated. The project was formally launched on November 16 — 18, 2007, when Brother Keshavananda and Brahmachari Lynn from Self-Realization Fellowship presided over a series of uplifting events at our Center. SRF established a tax-deductible account for your donations. Members and friends from across the country pledged to help us reach our goal of $1.2 million by 2011. Our project was mentioned in the Fall Voluntary League Newsletter.

About the importance of projects such as this, Paramahansa Yogananda wrote:

You do not know how much it means to me to know that you are all cooperating in such a wonderful way to help with the tremendous work we are doing… What you are doing is very pleasing to God and the Masters, and you who are privileged to share in this pioneering work are much blessed, more than you can know.

We have updated the following:

• Guidelines on the many types of donations we are now able to accept, including personal check, credit card, monthly debit of checking accounts, non-cash donations and corporate matching gifts.
• An updated criteria list describing the features that BMG devotees determined are most important in selecting a new home.
• An SRF Monetary Gift Form (PDF format) which can be used to set up a monthly checking account debit program or if you choose to mail donations directly to SRF.
• Information about the Open House on April 19, 2008 to support the Building Initiative, which will take place at the former home of Sister Yogamata, the first SRF monastic from Boston.

If you have not yet pledged support and would like to do so, please complete a Pledge Card or pick one up at the Center. The Pledge Card assists our planning. We will never contact you about your pledge. If you choose to donate anonymously, please send a Pledge Card with “Anonymous” in place of your personal information.

When you send a donation, we will forward it to the Boston Building Project account at SRF and send you an acknowledgement for your records. For gifts of $250 or more, SRF will also send you an acknowledgement.

The Building Committee will host periodic events to sustain enthusiasm for the project. In addition to the Open House on April 19, 2008, watch this site for a future event at Plum Island where Master and Dr. Lewis meditated by the ocean. These events are free of charge. Join us at these sacred places to pray for success of the project.

The SRF monastics encouraged us to manifest our goal through pictures and thoughts, and your input is both needed and welcome. Please add your inspiration to the Vision Board in the lobby of our Waltham Center, where you’ll find sketches and ideas from other devotees about the new center.

We have begun the real estate search; we may purchase an existing church or building and renovate it to our needs, or purchase land and build from the ground up. We encourage you to bring promising properties to the attention of the Building Committee. Please try to recommend properties that meet several criteria on the enclosed information. We invite you to continue with us on this inspiring journey which will fulfill Paramahansa Yogananda’s desire for a permanent center in Boston.

In divine friendship,

You may contact the Building Committee through Gene Blake, 617-510-8048 or gene.blake@shawgrp.com.