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> To whom it may concern:
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> I'm contacting you today to ask for your help and as a start up charity, a fax is the most cost and time effective way for one quadriplegic and a few part time family members to contact enough companies and people.
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> We all know that we are in a tough economy right now any many of our businesses are hurting. For most, things can and will get better. For some, the only way things will get better is if those of us who have will help those who have not.
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> I'm Jay Lawrence, I graduated from Cape Coral High School in 1994 and that same year was named MVP of the Seahawks Distract Champion Baseball team. In 1996, just 21 days short of my 21st birthday, I was in a car accident that left me paralyzed from the chest down.
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> Over the last 12 years I have been active in the community running my own successful business, bringing a new arena football team to S.W.F.L. as VP of Operations of the Florida Stingrays, coaching little league baseball, and I even headed up another 501c3, The Lee County Chapter Of The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis. I'm still passionate about finding a cure but, I believe there is a more immediate need.
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> As a disabled person, I know firsthand what a huge financial struggle it can be to acquire the necessary medical equipment and accessibility supplies that a disabled person needs on a day to day basis to live a normal life. Insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid quite simply do not have the resources to provide basic needs like accessible eating utensils, adaptable grooming tools, adaptive office equipment, and even adapted chairs that allow physically challenged people the ability to perform basic day to day tasks that most people take for granted like taking a morning shower. These products are very expensive necessities that a lot of severely disabled people do not have and cannot afford. That is why we founded and I became CEO of H.A.N.D.S. U.P. Charity (EIN 26-4133295).
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> H.A.N.D.S. U.P. (Helping Acquire Necessary Disability Supplies for Underprivileged People) is a non-profit organization that helps people with severe disabilities acquire necessary medical supplies and equipment not covered by insurance, Medicare or Medicaid.
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> Over the next year, we will be hosting several events starting with a benefit concert at the Olde Fish House Marina in Matlacha on Friday, May 8th with my brother Kip Lawrence of the local band, The Yard Dogs. We are writing in hopes that you would be interested in running a story before our event to promote it. We really need your help.
> You can visit us on the web at: http://www.myspace.com/handsupcharity
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> Thank you for your consideration,
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> Yours in success,
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> Jay Lawrence
> (239) 980-4397
> HandsUpCharity@gmail.com
