Can prayer encourage generosity and sacrifice? The Rochester, New York Bahá'ís believe it can! Coming together in unity and prayer during the last months of the Five Year Plan, the community was able to fulfill its goal for the Kingdom Project.

In 2002, when the Rochester, New York Bahá'í community decided on a fundraising goal for the Kingdom Project, some community members had doubts that they would succeed, after all, they were setting a goal already one year into the Five Year Plan. But the enthusiasm and strength in the community leading to one member's individual initiative engendered a strategy that would enable the community to reach its lofty goal.

After dividing the remainder of the funds needed among the community members, Alloysia Haynes, treasurer of the Rochester community, decided to add a personal touch for their sacrifices, "I gave each member at one of the feasts a 4x6 photograph of a different flower, with a name written on it, and asked them to recite the Fund prayer for that individual daily."

Aided by prayers and uninhibited by their capacities, the Rochester Bahá'í community managed to reach its fundraising goal for the Kingdom Project and sent in its final contribution on Ridván 2006.