Family Room: Articles

The Year's End, 2001: a letter from CFI's Founder, Michele Mason.

December 2001

Dear Friends,

This year has been a remarkable one for our country and our planet. Events have happened causing a mass shift towards honoring and treasuring our families and communities. For every tear shed in sadness and fear of recent tragedies, one was shed in happiness and gratitude for the kindness of the human heart and solidarity of our spirits.

At CFI, our mission has always been to cherish our children and make them feel welcome in their families and communities. We have made great strides this year with new chapters developing across the country, developing a sophisticated Web site where people can access child-friendly businesses, and members can chat and share information. We have many exciting plans for next year including:

In March, CFI will host a Forum in Brooklyn, NY and we will invite parents, educators, activists and local city officials and continue our on going dialogue of “What does it really mean to be child-friendly”? Our NYC Chapter Leader Wendy Ponte and I have agreed this is a particular good time to hold this event as many New York City children deserve a better quality of life and bringing our work into their community now could not be timelier. CFI’s focus has always been what happens in the day-to-day life of our children and how can we make it easier for them to be here and participate in a world that has always been geared more towards adults.

In May 2002, CFI will host a “belly-casting” fundraiser that will auction casts of pregnant bellies that have been decorated by local artists and celebrities. This event celebrates the gift of life, increases awareness about the importance or our children to the world, and raises much-needed funds that will be put back into our communities to make them more child-friendly.

We can’t do this without your support. Please become a member of CFI for as little as $25, or make a donation in any amount to help us accomplish the very important goal of welcoming children into this world. The Board of Directors feels strongly that 2002 will be a critical year for us, with many of our grassroots efforts beginning to have a broader impact. Please share in this momentum as a valued member of the CFI community with your tax-deductible membership or donation today.

Thank you for your support.

Yours truly,

Michele Mason
(Founder, Child-Friendly Initiative, Inc.)