Habitat for Humanity Responds to Hurricanes
One such fundraiser, Habitat for Humanity, petitions prospects for aid towards this pressing need with an "Urgent Message to all Habitat Partners" in its 6" x 9" holiday card package. The bright green insert added to the mailing delineates the damage caused by Hurricanes Charley, Frances and Ivan, stating, "thousands remain homeless," "dozens of lives have been lost" and "billions of dollars in damage has been inflicted." Specific initiatives undertaken by Habitat for Humanity in the recovery are not detailed, although the organization's mission to build affordable homes for the underprivileged makes its role clear. Instead, the insert only notes that the organization "is already moving quickly to aid recovery efforts" and it "urgently need[s] your strongest support." Beside the insert, the package is filled with a bevy of components designed to bolster response. An address label sheet with stickers and five holiday note cards are included as freemiums, plus the Roofus teddy bear premium introduced earlier this year is offered with donations of $35 or more along the $20/$35/$50/other ask ladder. Bookmarks Magazine Targets Readers
Bookmarks, "a reader's guide to the best in books," recently mailed a three-paneled 5" x 7" self-mailer with the primary goal of introducing the two-year old magazine to a potentially unfamiliar audience. 
Copy on the outer panel states that Bookmarks includes "hundreds of published book reviews distilled into one useful guide," while on the reverse, five quotes from prominent publications and a testimonial from author Kurt Vonnegut provide insight into the title's quality and utility. Inside the self-mailer is a more detailed look at Bookmarks' content, noting that reviews (over 50 in each issue) of new books, classics, expert chosen best-in-field titles, and book club favorites are derived from numerous excerpted sources such as The New York Times, New Yorker and Atlantic Monthly. To fully illustrate magazine content, a sample review of "Love" by Toni Morrison is found in the center of the promotion. The hard offer is set at $19.95 for six bimonthly issues.
Papal Agency Thanks Donors with Cross Pin
The Catholic Near East Welfare Association, a papal agency responsible for humanitarian, vocational and religious missionary work, encloses a cross lapel pin in two recent fundraising appeals. 
The pin is called the "Crosier Cross of Pope John Paul II" because it replicates the crucifix atop the crosier, or ceremonial staff carried by the Holy Father, which is modeled after those used by shepherds. A photo of the real papal crosier is on the front of the enclosed card that holds the pin, with its history on the back. The #10 packages look much like previous efforts that enclose prayer card bookmarks, with the obvious difference that the enclosed freemium produces extra bulk in the package. Both use very short letters positioning their appeal as coming directly from the pope, who needs help "to bring aid to the victims of war -- to reopen churches in Eastern Europe -- to train new priests and sisters in Indias -- to care for orphan children in Bethlehem -- [and] to respond to calls on this charity from Albania to Kerala, from Armenia to Ethiopia." The agency works in Middle East, Northeast Africa, India and Eastern Europe. Both order forms carry donation ask ladders of $15/$30/$50/$100/$250/other.
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