We're within shouting distance of completing the first phase of our Campaign for Habitot - we have raised $85,000 of our $100,000, end-of-February goal. Thank you donors! A rent reduction, a long-term pledge gift of $20,000, and over 100 donations from individual member families and community members have nearly replaced last year's absent foundation and corporate support.

If you haven't already given to this critical Campaign for Habitot, you gift now will still be matched dollar for dollar through the end of February! Please help us raise the remaining $15,000!

See the new video about why Habitot matters.

More than anything, the outpouring of gifts has restored our optimism that Habitot will continue to be supported by the community. But we're not out of the woods yet. Our year-round fundraising must continue for us to reach the Campaign goal of $300,000 by the end of the year.

To help Habitot reach its potential, please consider joining a volunteer fundraising committee, a special event task force, an advisory committee, or our trustee board -- or recommend someone you think would love to be involved. Please contact Gina Moreland if you'd like to know more about these volunteer opportunities (with no obligations)! habitot@lmi.net, 510-647-1111 x 11.

Author and UC-Berkeley professor Alison Gopnik (author of "The Philosophical Baby") will share fascinating insights about babies and brain development at Habitot on Friday, March 5 at an informal wine-cheese-dessert party for Habitot's 2009-2010 donors.

Our Post-2009 Member and Visitor Survey takes just 5 minutes - and participating enters you into a drawing for a FREE Family Circle Membership ($190 value). Our Member Survey is vital to helping us allocate resources, add or alter programs, and communicate to our funders how we are needed by the community!

The emails of all participants in the survey will be entered into a drawing for a six-person Family Circle membership ($190 value) which includes reciprocal museum admission, 10 class passes, and caregiver privileges. (If you hold a current membership, your expiration date will be extended one year).

The survey will be released the first week of February to all those receiving this newsletter, or you can click this link today to get started.

Beginning this month, we'll be asking members and registered caregivers to present a government-issued photo ID, along with the membership card, at the front desk on each visit. The parents' address on the ID card should match the address on the enrollment application. Please help us by keeping parents' names, children's names, current caregivers' names and all contact information up to date.

There will be a grace period while we fully implement the photo ID policy. We appreciate your help in communicating the policy to all parents and caregivers registered on your membership.

If you have any questions or concerns about the photo ID policy, for example, if you or your caregiver do not have a government-issued photo ID, please contact Lydia Stacey in our Membership Department at 510-647-1111 x 14. Habitot can provide alternative photo documentation at no charge and all identification matters will be kept strictly confidential.