As 2019 draws to a close, I find it reassuring that the permanent things continue to resonate.

Despite political rancor and social upheaval, there are men, women, and families throughout the country who continue to honor their cultural inheritance and are actively working to pass it on to the rising generation.

Through our various programs, the Kirk Center, too, contributes to the intellectual and spiritual formation of many students, young scholars, and professionals.

This year we've seen encouraging growth and successes which included:

• a resurgence of interest in Russell Kirk's writing (both political philosophy and supernatural fiction) with two books re-published this year: Russell Kirk's Concise Guide to Conservatism and Old House of Fear;
• The Conservative Mind translated into foreign languages including Chinese, Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Turkish;
• a quarter million online views of essays and reviews from The University Bookman;
• more than 250 students from across the U.S. gathered at Piety Hill for nine different seminars;
• the installation of a Historical Marker honoring Russell Kirk as “Michigan’s greatest man of letters” outside of the Center in Mecosta;
• the formation of the Russell Kirk Legacy Society for planned giving.

These are some of the ways in which we have intensified our work of cultural renewal, and we're looking forward to reaching new participants in 2020.

Thank you for your generous support and encouragement of the Kirk Center as we continue Russell’s work of promoting those ideals that strengthen the foundations—moral, cultural, and economic—of Western civilization and the American experience within it.

We wish you and your loved ones a blessed and merry Christmas.

Sincerely,

Annette Kirk, President
The Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal

P.S. As you make plans for your year-end giving, we're pleased to share that I am currently signing copies of Russell Kirk's Concise Guide to Conservatism and Old House of Fear to be sent to all supporters who make a contribution of $100 and $250 (or more), respectively.