Doing some good things
12-19-2012 | 08:05 PM
#1
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From: Philly (Narberth)
Doing some good things
With all of the bad stuff that's gone on in the past week or so, I wanted to share a personal "feel good" story:
Background: Thru a series of circumstances, we know a very modest couple here on the Philly "Main Line" whose last name is very recognizable. The eponymous company was sold a few years ago....greatly to the benefit of the husband of the couple, a son of one of the two founders of the huge international company (both deceased...several other children and grandchildren remain). Our friends could drive a Bugatti and a Ferrari but chose a Volvo SUV and a Prius instead. We have known them for a long time....especially the two women.
Most of you know that I have been involved with the Philly affiliate of a well-known Non-Profit for a loooong time....currently serving on their board of directors...plus the development and HR committees. With the connections noted above, I have been instrumental in getting several nice 4 figure donations from the foundation started by the founders...plus some family foundations. A month ago I, along with the Non-Profit's Development Director, met with the President of the foundation board (just happens to be one of our friends
)...submitting a pretty simple letter with a "blue sky" request for multi-year funding for some critical improvements for the organization's future. We were given encouragement to "look for a small contribution at year end" and told to come back for more discussion in spring 2013.
Imagine my SHOCK when I received a call from the Non-Profit Development Director this afternoon to tell me that an envelope had arrived in the mail with check for $30k, plus a letter approving a 3 year grant for $100k with a check in the envelope for half of the grant as a Year 1 starter. The caller and I were practically in tears of joy for what this will mean to our affiliate. It's a once-in-a-lifetime thing when I will be able to help facilitate something like this. It's a nice way to end the year.
This family (and the deceased fathers) are some of the 1% who do good stuff on a daily basis. It's nice to hear on the news that there has been a lot of "do good" in the aftermath of the CT shooting....sending Christmas trees to the victim families, collecting Teddy Bears for the town kids, etc. Of course, all of this is pretty insignificant to ease the grief....but you gotta start somewhere to change the "culture" of this country.
Background: Thru a series of circumstances, we know a very modest couple here on the Philly "Main Line" whose last name is very recognizable. The eponymous company was sold a few years ago....greatly to the benefit of the husband of the couple, a son of one of the two founders of the huge international company (both deceased...several other children and grandchildren remain). Our friends could drive a Bugatti and a Ferrari but chose a Volvo SUV and a Prius instead. We have known them for a long time....especially the two women.
Most of you know that I have been involved with the Philly affiliate of a well-known Non-Profit for a loooong time....currently serving on their board of directors...plus the development and HR committees. With the connections noted above, I have been instrumental in getting several nice 4 figure donations from the foundation started by the founders...plus some family foundations. A month ago I, along with the Non-Profit's Development Director, met with the President of the foundation board (just happens to be one of our friends
)...submitting a pretty simple letter with a "blue sky" request for multi-year funding for some critical improvements for the organization's future. We were given encouragement to "look for a small contribution at year end" and told to come back for more discussion in spring 2013.Imagine my SHOCK when I received a call from the Non-Profit Development Director this afternoon to tell me that an envelope had arrived in the mail with check for $30k, plus a letter approving a 3 year grant for $100k with a check in the envelope for half of the grant as a Year 1 starter. The caller and I were practically in tears of joy for what this will mean to our affiliate. It's a once-in-a-lifetime thing when I will be able to help facilitate something like this. It's a nice way to end the year.
This family (and the deceased fathers) are some of the 1% who do good stuff on a daily basis. It's nice to hear on the news that there has been a lot of "do good" in the aftermath of the CT shooting....sending Christmas trees to the victim families, collecting Teddy Bears for the town kids, etc. Of course, all of this is pretty insignificant to ease the grief....but you gotta start somewhere to change the "culture" of this country.
That's wonderful, Jerry!
12-20-2012 | 08:38 AM
#4
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 18,875
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From: Philly (Narberth)
Thanks...I hesitated to post this b/c it sounds a little like "blowing my own horn". One lesson re-affirmed: It takes a long time to establish relationships...and THAT is what decisions are based upon. Applies to both corporate and non-profit settings. This is a lesson that I have tried to share with my kids...and other young folks.
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