Thanks for a great year! We look forward to seeing you in 2006.

In case you were wondering (and we hope you were), right now, we stand at 291 total donors for the year. In the next few days, we need 30 more donors to reach our goal of 321 in 2005 (one more than last year's total of 320). Any donation amount would be much appreciated to help us hit our target for the year.

If you donate by credit card, the donation has to be made on or before 12/31/05. If you donate by check, please make sure the check is dated on or before 12/31/05. Please click here to donate today.

And now, as promised, the joke originally sent out a few years ago to encourage people to part with a $10 donation . . .

Bill and his wife Martha went to the state fair every year and every year Bill would say, "Martha, I'd like to ride in that airplane."

Martha always replied, "I know Bill, but that airplane ride costs 10 dollars, and 10 dollars is 10 dollars."

One year Bill and Martha went to the fair and Bill said, Martha, I'm 81 years old. If I don't ride that airplane I might never get another chance."

Martha replied, "Bill, that airplane ride costs 10 dollars, and 10 dollars is 10 dollars."

The pilot overheard them and said, "Folks, I'll make you a deal. I'll take you both up for a ride. If you can stay quiet for the entire ride and not say one word, I won't charge you; but if you say one word it's 10 dollars."

Bill and Martha agreed and up they went.

The pilot did all kinds of twists and turns, rolls and dives, but not a word was heard. He did all his tricks over again, but still not a word.

When they landed, the pilot turned to Bill and said, "By golly, I did everything I could think of to get you to yell out, but you didn't."

Bill replied, "Well, I was gonna say something when Martha fell out, but 10 dollars is 10 dollars."

From all of us at Reading to Kids, have a happy new year!

Best,