An honor to be able to apply for such a gift. We did not win but those that did are so worthy of the gift. Bill so loved children so is quite appropriate that the gift goes to help the future, our children. Thanks Beth for all your hard work and for being there for Bill until the end.
Merry Christmas.

This was a wonderful event last year. It opened my eyes, humbled me and made me thankful for all I have in life. The 42 degree weather was far outweighed by the gratification received from giving the gift of a backpack! I recommend this to anyone wanting to go beyond holiday gift exchange by meeting new people and making a difference in someone's life they will surely never forget.

The Backpacks for Christ project has been such a rewarding one for our church since its inception and the gift of a backpack to the Phoenix homeless is such a worthy cause that we pray that you consider this project as one of the recipients of the Memorial Fund. I so miss Bill's cheerful voice on my morning commute to work! There are so many wonderful charities that I'm sure it is hard to choose the most worthy charities! The homeless have so little and what better to give them than something of quality to carry around their few belongings?

Happy Holidays! Terry W.

What a wonderful way for us to remember Bill Austin who for many years brought laughter into our home each morning. What a unique couple they were. He and Beth helped us listen and laugh and we continue to miss them together each day.

Thank You to Beth KEZ for this Memorial Fund in memory of Bill. This fund would be so helpful to our Backpacks for Christ program in this struggling and financially stress filled year.

These backpacks are so useful to individuals who are in need. This is one item they can own and be proud of. For those church members who have taken an active part in giving them our and praying with a person on the street on Christmas morning, it is definitely Christ in action.
What a pleasure to bring joy into an individual you don't know and will never see again for a few brief minutes on Christmas morning. The best gift ever!

Please consider our Backpacks for Christ program when you make your decision and we know whatever decision you make will be right!
Happy Holidays, Betty F.

To the Bill Austin Memorial Fund Judges:

I can think of no more perfect way to honor KEZ radio legend Bill Austin than to use his Memorial Fund to sponsor Backpacks for Christ.

I worked with Bill on the very first day he arrived at KEZ and for years after. This sponsorship would be right up his alley. After all, nobody can argue that Bill Austin was a unique man, with a huge heart and a caring soul. These are the exact attributes that every kid (and adult) who has participated in Backpacks for Christ shares.

"Backpacks for Christ" is perhaps one of the most unique, thoughtful and loving ideas to help out Phoenix's homeless community. Instead of doing what most kids do on Christmas - unwrapping gifts - the kids decide to hand out gifts - but not just any kind of present, the ones they wanted to handout were backpacks. Yes, backpacks!

At first glance, backpacks may seem like an odd gift. But what's special about them is that when you're homeless, with nothing but a few belongings to your name, the question becomes where do you store your belongings? Now, by the grace of God, I've never been homeless, but if I were, I would imagine that even tho I didn't have a place to call my own, I would still want to protect the few momentos that I could take with me, such as photos of my family, important documents, etc, in addition to the necessities of life such as clothes, water and food. A sturdy, secure backpack would seem the perfect solution for a homeless person - assuming of course they had the money to buy one.

That's where the Bill Austin Memorial Fund comes in. They are applying for a $10,000 grant from the fund so they can purchase these much needed backpacks so they can hand them out on Christmas Day. This is the type of sponsorship that's right up Bill's alley. In fact, a passage about Bill from www.spiritandword.org caught my eye - " He didn't walk just one path in his spiritual journey; he wanted to know about them all." Being homeless is probably one path that neither Bill, nor you or I ever would ever wanted to be forced to walk down during our life's spiritual journey. But I bet it will be a tough road made somewhat less difficult for the homeless living in Phoenix, knowing that a group of church kids with a bright idea and a radio legend with a big, humorous heart have got their back - in the shape of a sturdy sack.

Merry Christmas!

Linton Johnson

Our family has participated in the Backpacks for Christ since its inception. Last years event (2010) was different for us; our lives had forever changed on Super Bowl Sunday, February 7, 2010 when my husband and my children's father died suddenly of a heart attack.

My husband, Mark was from a large family. His family tries to have a family reunion every five years with the last one being held in Tennessee, July 2009. While various family members set around discussing when the next opportunity to get together would take place the idea was floated around to get together for Christmas 2010 in the desert at our home. As the holiday season approached we were faced with a tough decision - did we stick to the plan and have a mini family reunion in the desert at Christmas? After much discussion and many tears we decided to host the family gathering.

Mark was an outgoing, energetic, kid-at-heart, never-met-a-stranger kind of guy. He had this amazing ability to make each and every person he met immediately feel like they had been best friends forever. He had been in his element in years past at Backpacks for Christ. We were not sure we were emotionally capable of participating in the event. Ultimately, we decided we would think not of ourselves but continue our family tradition of being involved in this amazing outreach project. Christmas Eve arrived, colder than we wanted but with warm hearts we made our way to the homeless shelter. The twenty-five plus family members arrived with ample time to get things set up, pick our participation stations and take some family photo ops of all the cousins clowning around. The meeting and greeting of new friends began and we reveled in the smiles of the children as they picked up their backpacks. My youngest son (age 17) had chosen the participation station "Photos with New Friends at the Christmas Tree" which allows for one-on-one interaction with the guests. At some point he struck up a conversation with a homeless gentlemen, who had the same name and was about the same age as his Dad, and somehow my husband's death became the topic of conversation. The homeless gentlemen asked my son his age and then said "I was also 17 when my father died." An instant bond was formed between the two and Mark talked about how his relationship with his own son was strained, lamenting where he had failed as a father and decided he wanted to make amends and reach out to his son before it was too late. While the holiday was a struggle as we faced our loss, my son would tell you he was so blessed to have been able to reach out to his new friend, Mark and be the catalyst for bringing a father and son together. It was better than any present under the tree.

If Backpacks for Christ are one of the lucky recipients of the the Spirit and Word $10,000 award many lives will be changed for the better again this year.

Our Backpack project team seek to give back to the community in a way that provides practical items such as toiletries & socks to the homeless. Last year it was heartbreaking to realize that there was not enough for all who gathered and were in need. Despite the creative fundraising this year, so many are strapped financially themselves that it has been difficult to fully support the demand. The extra funds that Beth and friends could contribute this week to Backpacks for Christ would be an answer to many prayers in this economy. May Backpacks for Christ continue to share with those who are homeless, cold, and need the love of God manifested this year in a personal practical manner & provide them with hope. Beth & Friends funds would allow us increase our ability to proactively help others in need and give back.

Had a meeting with our Backpack project team for this year, praying for God to work a financial miracle with only two weeks till our Christmas outreach we have only $50 of the $10,000 needed for to cover this year's expenses. College student volunteers spent hours this weekend going door to door inviting businesses to help support this effort. We feel like the Spirit and Word with Beth and Friends give-a-way of $10,000 would be the most amazing God answer to prayer. We believe in this project and know that God will find a way to make this year's project a reality. We are asking that you consider "Backpacks for Christ" to be one of the five receivers of this week's donation. Every dollar will go directly to purchase backpacks for homeless men, women, and children!

Blessings, Pastor Benjamin

Giving back is what Christmas is all about. I have witnessed our church doing great things in the homeless community. This project is God's face shinning and in the chaotic world we live in these small gestures touch so many hearts. To the givers and the receivers of this great project may God bless you.

We (my wife and 3 children) were unable to participate last year in this wonderful event to help the homeless and teach our children in the same breadth the spirit of giving especially on a holiday so commonly focused on getting instead of giving. We look forward to participating this year and ANY assistance given to this wonderful cause WILL make a difference in reaching individuals in a personal way for Christ this Christmas!