The Top three Captains, that raise a $1,000 or more will receive a gift certificate worth a $100 or more to a local restaurant or  Department store. Compliments of our Sponsors.  Plus 2 tickets to the Global Gala.

The Top three Captains, that raise a $500 will receive a gift certificate worth a $25 or more to a local restaurant or  Department store. Compliments of our Sponsors.  Plus 2 tickets to the Global Gala.

The Top three Captains, that raise a $250, will receive a free HI Membership.

All Honors will be presented at the Annual Global Gala

Pass it on!

Forward our Donation link to your Family & Friends.  If you would like to include a letter or personal note, we have one prepared for you.  Just send us an e-mail or call to sign-up and request the contribution letter. 

AYH@HI-DVC.ORG    Phone: 215-925-6005

Sample Letter:

(Date)

Dear Family & Friends,

As you may know, I am a member of HI USA and my local youth hostel association is HI The Delaware Valley Council of American Youth Hostels, Inc.  The mission of the organization is “To help all especially the young, gain a greater understanding of the world and its people through hostelling.”  They carry out their mission through the Youth Hostel Program.

Did your know that my Council operates four hostels in our region?  The hostels that are currently operational are HI Evansburg State Park in Collegeville, PA, the historic HI Iron Master's Mansion, which is part of the Underground Railroad and is located in Pine Grove Furnace State Park, Gardners, PA, and HI Tyler State Park in Newtown, PA.  In addition, the Council is working on a hostel restoration project at HI Bowmansville in Lancaster County, which is one of the oldest hostels in the Country.  These hostels currently serve over 4200 guests each year, primarily hosting community youth groups from our region.  The Delaware Valley Council assumed management of the State Park Hostels from the national organization in 1995, to prevent their closure.  They recognized the importance of these hostels to the regional community and the youth groups they serve.  I hope you will too.

Seventy-five percent of the youth hostel participants at these hostels, are local community youth organizations, which include at risk youth programs, upward bound programs, schools, colleges, churches and scouts.  While foreign hostellers are few at these facilities, they too enjoy the laid back pace and recreation these rural hostels provide.  Offering healthy educational and environmental activities for youth in the Tri-State region is the primary function at these hostels.  They offer hiking, swimming, boating, fishing, history tours, environmental programs, and a host of other recreational options.  The positive feedback received after visits by these organizations suggests that changing our youths' environment and activities for a weekend or day can spark their curiosity and interest beyond their neighborhood, inspiring and motivating them to achieve their goals.

Since the events of September 11^th, 2001, maintaining operations has not been easy for HI USA and it has not been easy for our local Council.  Fewer young people have been traveling, which means fewer hostel overnights, fewer membership sales, and less revenue to invest in our local hostels and activities.  The Council had to make fiscally responsible but nonetheless painful expense reductions, which included closing the HI Pocono hostel and placing the HI Bowmansville Restoration Project on hold.  Despite a lean economy my Council has managed to keep three hostels operational, offer educational programs and out bound travel services, while planning for the future.

We, the members and friends of Delaware Valley Council, have experienced the benefits of hostelling, and want to ensure that these small quaint hostels in Pennsylvania are maintained for current and future generations of young people.  With your help, we can.

You may convey your sentiments or include a hostel experience

Do you remember your first hostelling trip?  How did it change your perspectives?

Examples:

I love hostels.  I’ve met people from all over the world and have heard amazing stories.  I have also learned different people’s perspectives about the U.S.A.  It really interests me to hear other people’s point of views.  Traveling and hostelling opens many doors for people.

Not to sound cheesy but hostelling has changed my life extremely.  I have backpacked over Central Europe for four months and I have met the most amazing people.  Hostels encourage communication, sharing and travel.  I honestly can’t explain the change in my life since I traveled but it has been a great change and I just crave to explore and travel and meet new people and hostels are what tie all of that together.

I want to share with you some of my Council’s accomplishments and plans.

My Council is working every day to get out the word about hostelling.  Their volunteers and staff are available to make presentations to local clubs, youth groups and schools.  We want everyone to know about HI-USA hostels in their community and what opportunities we provide locally and globally.

The Council also operates a travel Center and offers travel education programs to assist with planning trips. 

Budget Travel Seminars are designed to reassure and inform first time travelers about safety, affordability and cross-cultural friendships.  We know that for first time hostelers an adventure, particularly one abroad, can be daunting. 

Introduction to Hostelling is designed to introduce community youth groups to our organization and inform them about the safe, affordable educational outings we can provide their group. 

Some of the Councils immediate plans are:

A welcoming hostel – We want to invest in our local Youth Hostels.  With the travel downturn, we have had to cut back our investment in capital improvements for the hostels in recent years, but now are launching a serious campaign to improve the quality of the hostel experience.  This year, new national hostel quality standards will require the Council to purchase 46 bunk beds, and other new safety compliant equipment.  Your support will help purchase new bunk beds and equipment or help with repairs and maintenance projects.

   Program outreach – We know that hostelling has a role to play in building young minds and bodies.  We want to get the word out more widely to groups within our council jurisdiction.  Our focus to date has been on the Philadelphia area, but there are needs in other parts of our region as well.  Your support will help to pay for new brochures and mailing costs.

Expanded programs – We want to expand our programming offerings to our community young people.  Last year we were able to offer Introductory to Hostelling and Travel Seminars, but with the rebound in travel, we expect demand to be much higher in 2006.  Plus we want to participate in the development of a Travel Scholars program to enable local youth organizations that serve deserving young people to take advantage of HI-USA hostels nationwide through scholarships and programs.  Your $50 support will help to underwrite the cost of our expanded programming efforts.

The Youth Hostel program in our region plays a vital role in shaping our youth into dynamic global citizens, while hosting a wide variety of other guests.  Through my personal hostelling experiences, I know and understand the value an importance of this program. That is why I am asking for your help today.

Please consider a gift of $5, $10, $25, $50, $100 or make a pledge to buy a bed.  You may also become involved through volunteering.  We are always in the need of good volunteers.  Visit my Council’s web site to see how your support can make a difference!  And please, don’t delay in responding.  Your gift will be put right to work.

Sincerely yours,

Your Name

Donor Information & Instructions

You have options for donations, website online with a credit card or check by the mail.

Online:

Go to http://www.hi-dvc.org/and click the donation link. From donations click the make a contribution online link.  This will take you to a secure website where you click the Donations Item Help keep us warm and build a Bed.  If you are planning to donate more than $5.00 dollars, please indicate the value of your gift by increasing the quantity beside the add to cart button. 

NOTE: Once you click the Checkout button, you do not have to register to use this site.  Click the Continue As Guest button.  In the Special Instructions box you may designate the use of you donation.  (See choices below)

BY MAIL:

___     YES, I want to help hostelling in the Your Region.   Enclosed please find my contribution of $ __________. (Make Checks Payable to HI DVC AYH, Inc.)  Please send your contribution to: Hostelling International The Delaware Valley Council of American Youth Hostels, Inc., 1210 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19107

I would like my gift to help (check one):

_____  Where ever there is a need

_____  The HI  _______________________ hostel

_____  HI Bowmansville Restoration Project

_____  Hostel Bunk Beds Purchase

_____  Community Outreach

_____  Expanding Programs

Name: ______________________________________________

Address: ____________________________________________

City/State/Zip: ________________________________________

Email:_______________________ Phone: (____)____________

___ Please send me information about volunteer opportunities with Your Council.

___ I would like to receive information about hostel activities & newsletters from your Council, please add me to your mailing list