Dear Friend,

I know you are one of Covenant House's best friends, someone who's always been willing to help our young people when you could.

And even though I have never had the chance to write you as Covenant House's Board Chairman before, I pray you will read this important message.

After five years of living and dying with the successes and failures of our kids, Sister Tricia has submitted her resignation to the Board of Directors.

(First, let me assure you ... Sister Tricia will be with us during what will be a seamless transition. We will conduct a nationwide search for a new President, and Jim White, our Chief Operating Officer who has dedicated over 20 years of his professional life to Covenant House, has agreed to serve as Interim President.)

In her time as President, Sister Tricia has lived 24 hours a day, seven days a week to help the 300,000 young people who have come through the doors of Covenant House.

She has worked tirelessly as an advocate, not only for our Covenant House kids, but as a strong voice for the hundreds of thousands of young people who struggle to survive on the streets every night.

Whether it was a quiet breakfast with our kids in the cafeteria, or grueling trips around the country to raise awareness and funds, she has always put the kids first.

Sister Tricia has written to you many times, asking for your help for her kids. She spoke to you about how good and brave these kids are, and how much she loves them.

I think she would tell you that she didn't just write those letters about our kids for their sake ... but for her own sake as well.

She took comfort from being able to share her pain, her joy, her concerns. To her, you were not a stranger -- you were a friend who loved these kids as much as she does.

Sister Tricia is at peace with her decision, knowing in her heart that God has a plan for the next chapter of her spiritual journey. But at the same time, it's hard for her. I know her biggest worry -- that this difficult economic downturn will lead to something terrible and we'd have to cut back on services because we couldn't afford it.

As Sister said recently, "It is especially during difficult times that all of us have tough decisions to make ... at Covenant House, those decisions cut right to the core of our mission.

Do we cut back our street outreach efforts because it now costs $70 to fill the outreach van?

No ... because kids' lives are at stake.

Do we close our doors after midnight to save on rising utility costs?

Never. Our kids' lives are at stake...

Rising food costs are an issue for all of us ... but for the kid starving on a street corner, the issue, in good times or in bad, remains the same.

Does anyone care?

Through thick and thin, no matter how tough times have been financially for Covenant House, nothing gave Sister Tricia greater joy than to let kids know that friends like you really do care. And nothing gave her greater satisfaction than to see a kid come in homeless, hungry and dirty and then see that same kid a few weeks later -- cleaned up, smiling and hopeful.

So the more we thought about it, the more clear it became that the very best gift you and I could ever give Sister as she moves on to her next ministry is the security of knowing Covenant House will not only survive through these difficult economic times ... but thrive.

And that's why we decided we should launch...

The Campaign for Kids in Crisis:
A Tribute to Sister Tricia

I know without a doubt Sister will be profoundly touched when she learns you and her other special supporters chose to honor her this way.

Nothing else could compare to allowing her to leave with an unburdened heart, knowing kids coming in off the streets will be well cared for at our crisis centers and the children's most urgent and immediate needs will be met.

And Sister will be so happy we've raised more money for the kids instead of spending it on a fancy party or going-away gifts for her.

For over 27 years in religious life, Sister Tricia has seen every minute as an opportunity to help the abused and abandoned and neglected. There can be no better way to honor this service than by guaranteeing that the lights of Covenant House will be on, and the doors will be open, and a friendly voice will say to a forgotten child, "We're so glad you've come. Please, come in."

Sister Tricia often speaks about the magic moments that occur at Covenant House every day...

The moment God taps a frightened runaway child on the shoulder and guides him to our crisis shelter...

The moment a homeless young girl asks a Covenant House outreach worker for help off the streets...

That first shower that chips away at the dirt ... and some of the shame ... that is part of everyday street life...

The first night in a clean, safe bed, away from the predators...

Sister Tricia has provided these simple yet profound moments to our kids ... and I think you'll agree Sister should be celebrated for her lifetime of service she's given to the poor and the homeless.

Thousands of kids have been rescued from a sub-human existence plagued with drugs, prostitution, pornography, disease and, ultimately, death.

Sister Tricia's dedication and love for these kids has helped to make this happen.

She would never take credit for it, because she believes this is God's work ... and she's right of course, each of us is serving Him when we answer His call to help Covenant House kids. But it's also true that thousands of kids are not merely alive, they've turned their lives around and are doing great because of Sister Tricia's love and care.

And that's why I ask you to honor her today, by making a special contribution to The Campaign for Kids in Crisis: A Tribute to Sister Tricia.

Even as she discerns what her next ministry may be, her priority continues to be the kids. She worries and prays for the ones who are struggling today, and even more so for the ones who will come tomorrow, and the day after that ... the frightened, desperate, hopeless lonely kids who depend on Covenant House for their very lives.

It's time to celebrate the life and work of an extraordinary servant of God.

Please help me honor Sister for her service to our kids by making a very special gift today to the Campaign for Kids in Crisis: A Tribute to Sister Tricia.

Thank you for your part in making Sister Tricia's presidency a success. Thank you for helping Sister Tricia and our heroic staff rescue over 300,000 young people from the streets during the last five years. Thank you for inviting Sister Tricia and our kids into your family, and into your hearts.

P.S. You're very special to Sister Tricia. She has often said that nothing is more important about Covenant House than the people who support us, and that we wouldn't exist without you. As we fight through these difficult economic times, I want to thank you on behalf of the entire Covenant House family for loving these kids.

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