CREATE TABLE table_2538117_12 (letters VARCHAR, founding_date VARCHAR)

How many letters were given to the organization with a founding date of 1997-12-12?
SELECT COUNT(letters) FROM table_2538117_12 WHERE founding_date = "1997-12-12"
SELECT COUNT("letters") FROM "table_2538117_12" WHERE "1997-12-12" = "founding_date"