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The original "white envelope" story reached our family nearly ten years ago and immediately became one of our favorite holiday traditions. Each Christmas, our parents would give a gift to someone in need in honor of the four of us.

After only a few years, we caught the giving bug as well and surprised them with an envelope of our own telling them how we had provided a full Christmas (gifts, decorations, a catered meal, and more) to a family in need in Atlanta. The tears of joy streaming down our parents’ faces were the best gift we received that year and every year since. The annual tradition continued, and each year two plain white envelopes show up on our tree, each containing the most important gifts of all.

In January 2006, the four of us began thinking about how we could spread this wonderful tradition beyond our family. After many pizza dinners and late-night brainstorming sessions, we decided we would start a nonprofit in honor of our parents as our “white envelope” Christmas gift to them that year. Thus, The White Envelope Project was formed to spread the word about this tradition and the importance of giving. We secretly met for months building the website, recruiting a Board of Directors, obtaining 501(c)(3) status, recruiting our initial charity partners, and fundraising. On October 8, 2006 – nearly 11 weeks before Christmas – we couldn’t wait any longer and surprised Mom and Dad at a family birthday celebration with a small white envelope containing a single sheet of paper describing what we had done in their honor.

As The White Envelope Project has grown and our programs have expanded, this tradition continues to be the cornerstone of our efforts. This year, as small white envelopes find their place on our tree and hundreds or even thousands of trees around the country, we hope you will join us.

Ben, Billy, Stuart, and Heather Lawder

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