Dear Bob,

Ten years ago, I wrote you a letter, expressing my delight and enthusiasm for a new program that I was spearheading for the public schools in Hillsborough County, Florida. It is called "Project I CAN," and is based on the "I CAN" curriculum created by motivational trainer Zig Ziglar, and implemented through your expert instruction.

It is truly one of life's sweetest blessings when you can set a goal and see it being realized. So is the case with "Project I CAN." Needless to say, we are not looking for "end" results. This is a project in progress.

I would, however, like to share with you some of our experiences to date.

· The business community has truly "bought into" investing in our youth. They realize that it is truly a win win situation. If our kids are exposed to building their lives on a solid moral foundation, if they are shown how to set and achieve goals, if they realize the importance of relationships, they make much better employees or employers! Through job mentoring, job shadowing, in kind donations and $300,000 in cash donations, over the past 10 years, the business community annually see their return on their investment, at our annual recognition dinner where students from the "I CAN" program stand up and witness what "I CAN" has meant to them.

· To date, 4,000 students have experienced "Project I CAN." We continue to see improved school spirit, renewed enthusiasm for teaching, and an overall "I CAN" attitude among teachers and students alike.

· We have established scholarship funds and have awarded 11 scholarships to date. This enables these students a full 4 year scholarship, providing they stay in school, stay crime free, drug free and maintain good grades.

So you can see that when Hillsborough County adopted the "I CAN" philosophy, we proved "We Can" do it!

I will be forever grateful for your guidance, inspiration, and help making "I CAN" a reality for our kids.

Respectfully,