I'll admit it, I've got the holiday spirit.

Not the fruitcake-eating, gizmo-buying kind. I'm talking about the spirit of friendship, giving thanks and excitement about the promise of a New Year.

I'm thankful for you and thousands of other friends who have made the Institute a powerful and effective voice for change in the South.

From the Gulf Coast to the mountains of Appalachia, you helped the Institute expose problems others were sweeping under the rug, and give voice to people and issues others had ignored.

And now, you can join with us to strengthen our voice for a more just, safe and peaceful future.

This month we're kicking off our 40th Anniversary Campaign for the Institute Investigative Fund.

Our goal: To raise $35,000 by the end of the year to expand our investigative reporting, train a new generation of Southern journalists and double the audience we reach.

And we can't do it without you.

This holiday season, can you help us with a gift of $25, $50 or more to make our campaign a success?

http://bit.ly/iss40campaign

Your help is especially critical now, with new lawmakers in Congress and state legislatures threatening to turn back the clock on voting rights, protecting our air and water and other important issues.

With your help, we can make 2011 a brighter year. Please join our campaign today!

P.S. -- Thanks to friends like you, we've already raised over $17,000 towards our $35,000 goal. Please, chip in what you can and join our campaign today!