Hello, HPers! As I did last year, I will be taking the PLUNGE into the Monongahela River on New Years' Day. Why, you ask? Last year, on a lark, I was able to raise over $1600 for Jeremiah's Place (www.jeremiahsplace.org) in less than four days, partially with help from some of you great HPers! This year, it's even more exciting: our renovation is almost complete in the Kingsley Association building, and our hope is to open our doors to children and families in crisis mid- to late January. My personal goal for this year is $2500. I have also managed in inspire (or coerce) 5 additional folks to take the plunge. Each of them have set personal goals as well, and our group total goal is somewhere around $10,000. Please consider a donation. You can make it in honor or memory of someone as well. All donations are 100% tax-deductible. If you send a check, make it payable to Jeremiah's Place and put a note in the memo that says "Rachel -Plunge" so that we can keep track of our personal and group goals. The address is: Jeremiah’s Place P.O. Box 11100 Pittsburgh, PA 15237 You can also donate online via www.jeremiahsplace.org. There's a space to make a note that it is to sponsor me for the plunge there as well. (You can also jump, just email me!) And, of course, spectators are always welcome at the Plunge itself, which will be at the Mon Wharf at 9:30 am on Wednesday. And, by the way, one of the GREAT people who volunteered to jump this year is none other than Heather Cramer, also of Highland Park, owner (with her husband, Rob) of Olive & Marlowe, the amazing olive oil & balsamic shop in East Liberty. Talk about HP support! Thank you all for your incredible generosity, good will and support. May you all have a truly blessed new year! Rachel M. Kudrick