"Not once," the donor wrote, had they "turned their backs to the less fortunate."

That donor wrote about how his great-grandfather, an Italian immigrant, had worked as a day laborer for 80 years.

The remainder is a holiday gift, "to spend however they wish," the donor wrote.

As in past years, donors have written letters with their checks, describing a wide variety of reasons for giving.

Although many donors write long letters, others convey their compassion in a sentence or two.

"Thank you for not bothering me," wrote one donor, who added that she was concerned about her privacy.

"Billy was always coming to the aid of others in need," the anonymous donor wrote.

Another donor, who did not want her name published, sent $1,250 and wrote: "Economic adversity has caused a significant drop in my income this year.

Under this state-approved guise, a donor can write a much larger check than for a federal campaign.

And one generous donor wrote that she had recently lost her job.