This newsletter from January 2004 was written during the foundation’s first months and shows how it intended to work with its supporters.
Thanks and acknowledgement
The author thanked people who had already given and said personal letters were on the way. Those letters would also serve as receipts, and the note added that a letter dated before the new year could be relevant to the supporter’s prior-year tax return. The foundation said it spoke with John Entwistle’s family each week and that every decision involved them. His mother, Queenie, was described as pleased to hear about the affection shown for her son, and a formal letter to the family listing helpers was planned as a recurring practice.
A personal contribution
The writer said they were moved by the response and planned to give something too: an acoustic bass that Entwistle had given them years earlier, which still had his strings on it. The instrument would be offered at auction through John’s own website, and details such as photographs and serial numbers would follow. The follow-up is covered in the bass auction update.
Mailing list and privacy
Members of the mailing list were promised early notice of upcoming events, and the note stated that email addresses would never be shared.
Helping without giving money
The newsletter acknowledged that the holiday season had just ended and that not everyone could give straight away. It encouraged supporters to do what they could, including simply spreading the word about the foundation. The author argued that awareness at this early stage mattered as much as funds. Fundraising targets mentioned in the original are not repeated here.
For an overview of the foundation’s causes, see the introductory letter.