Lucas --
I hope this finds you well. Two years ago, after a multi-year effort,
over 100,000 signatures on a petition, the involvement of several members
of Congress, and national media coverage, I welcomed home the man who
saved my life, my Afghan translator, Janis and his family.
The next morning, CBS told our story to the country.
What many folks didn't see was what happened after the camera's
stopped rolling. I turned to Janis and said "come on brother, let's
go get the rest of your luggage." He pointed to four roll-away suitcases
(the size of carry-ons) and said, "brother, this is all we were allowed
to bring - one suitcase per person, it had to fit in the bin over the
seat."
He arrived with the clothes on his back and the family heirlooms - the
family Quran and few treasured mementos - the only items from their homeland
they will ever be able to give their children.
I turned to the CBS news team and made a plea - when they told the country
about our story the next morning, would they also let folks know that
Janis had come with nothing and that I was setting up a fund to help try
and take care of his family. The crew readily agreed.
Three days later, I checked the bank account we'd created to accept
donated funds. Much to my surprise, it contained over $35,000 - mostly
the gifts of complete strangers.
I went Janis' apartment - the one I had helped acquire and furnish
with donated beds, a spartan table, and a few kitchen utensils. I told
Janis I had a gift and handed him an envelope with a check for $35,000
- more money than he had ever had at one time in his life. I said, "brother,
I have a gift here for you on behalf of the American people. It's
a check for $35,000. That's enough money to cover your rent and food
for at least a year. Put your feet up. Relax. Play with your kids. For
the first time in your life breathe easy, for no one is coming to kill
you."
He looked at the envelope for about half of a heartbeat and said, "brother
I can't accept this money."
"What do you mean you can't accept it? What do you want me to
do with it?"
Then he looked into my eyes and said, "what about Ehsan? What about
Latif? And Jamshid? And Habib? Don't they deserve to be here too?"
(He was naming the other translator's from our base who were still
"left behind" in Afghanistan).
Again I asked what he would have me do with the money, to which he replied,
"Brother, can we create an organization to help do for other translators
what you have done for me? Help them get their visas, a home, some furniture,
and maybe a car and a job?"
Two years later,
No One Left Behind has offices in nine cities and has helped resettle over 700 people from
Iraq and Afghanistan -- all former translators and their families.
To honor Janis' original commitment to our mission, will you help
me raise $35,000 in the next 72 hours? We can help resettle at least another
3 families with it.
Thanks for being a part of our journey and helping keep America's Promise.
-Cheers,
Matt
Matt Zeller
http://www.nooneleft.org/