As a 25-year employee of Applied Materials, Inc. there have been many times I have been proud to be part of my company but never more so than this week. Applied Materials has offered to match employee donations to the tsunami relief efforts up to $1,000. My family has taken full advantage of this generous proposal from our company and it pleases me to know that I am leveraging our family giving.

I would like to suggest to residents that plan to give to the relief efforts to check with their employers to see if they have a similar program at their place of work or if their company is considering setting up a matching plan. We need to encourage our employers to follow Applied Materials lead; matching donations do make a big difference and make their employees proud to be part of a company that cares.

Kathleen King

Mayor, Saratoga

Wasserman best
thing to happen
to Los Gatos

I am a longtime local of Los Gatos. I feel that Mayor Mike Wasserman is the best thing that has happened to this great little town in a long time! I am no DeCinzo as a cartoonist, but before he starts to shred his performances as mayor, I thought I would share my opinion as a local. Take it for what it's worth.

Tommy Rose

Los Gatos

Mayor is proud
of community
for its efforts

I am so proud to be a part of this community! In the last week, I've learned about the efforts of several Los Gatos individuals and organizations to raise funds to aid the tsunami victims. While I'm sure there are many more efforts taking place than I'm aware of, I wanted to let your readers know about these few in case they wanted to participate in this humanitarian effort.

The Courtside Club has found a way to multiply each dollar donated! They are partnering with the International Community Foundation and the UN Foundation in a matching-funds program. To learn more, residents should call the director of community services, Shelly Gains, at 408.395.7111, ext. 246.

Rosalie Patterson of the Los Gatos Kiwanis is active with the American Red Cross and says donations can be sent to 2731 N. 1st St., San Jose, CA 95134 (408.577.1000). Checks should be made out to Tsunami Relief if the donor wants the money to go to this specific disaster.

John Curtis, president of the Los Gatos Morning Rotary Club and director of parks and public works for the town of Los Gatos, tells me that his members raised $4,800—at lunch—last week to help send water purification units to Sri Lanka.

Ray Bortolussi of the Los Gatos Lions and owner of Los Gatos Village Flowers tells me his club is raising money and sending it to Lions International, who is distributing 100 percent of it via its numerous clubs already located in the devastated area.

Trudy McCulloch, principal of Los Gatos High School, says her students, via the leadership class, are actively raising money from students and parents to aid in the relief efforts.

I'm sure there are dozens more good stories to be told, but these are just a few of the ones that have come my way. I applaud these individuals and organizations for their efforts and encourage all residents to participate through one of these groups, or their religious organization, or their employer.

Mike Wasserman

Mayor, Los Gatos