It’s Time to Junk ‘Junk Mail’ Designation

To the Editor:

I must take issue with U.S. News and World Report‘s use of the term “junk mail” to describe one of the most important means Boys Town has to communicate with donors who help to care for tens of thousands of at-risk youths each year through Boys Town USA programs across the country (“Direct-Mail Glut,” Press Clippings, December 11). We think such important communication is anything other than junk and suspect that those who currently support our work, or wish to consider doing so, may feel the same way.

We at Boys Town believe our direct-mail pieces to be one of the most innovative and cost-effective methods for communicating with donors and prospective supporters. Our use of the most up-to-date technologies enables Boys Town to keep program-to-overhead ratios low. This means the most money goes to helping the most kids. It’s that simple. To do otherwise would not be good financial stewardship of our donors’ contributions.

The Rev. Val J. Peter
Executive Director
Father Flanagan’s Boys’ Home
Boys Town, Neb.