The Damar Hamlin story has been an inspiration to millions of people in America and beyond. One week after his heart stopped, he left the hospital in Cincinnati and returned to Buffalo. Danny Killington, the assistant trainer for the Buffalo Bills, is credited for saving Damar’s life but many others assisted. The power of prayer may well have played a role.
One aspect of the Hamlin story needs to be emphasized. At age 24, Hamlin had already established a foundation to lend aid to children in his hometown. Just think about that for a moment.
How many among us have shown support for worthy causes at such a young age? In my case, it was only after retiring from the Air Force that I began to lend assistance to worthwhile endeavors.
Let me share a few insights I have gained in my thirty-three years living in Augusta. First, the challenges of raising funds for your favorite organizations.
- Before you approach folks for help, be sure you make a contribution yourself.
- Show enthusiasm for the issue you are supporting. The Jimmie Dyess Symposium tops my list. Funds donated to this annual event pay for all of the symposium’s expenses; they also support the annual budget of the Augusta Museum of History. Incidentally, the 13th annual symposium will be held tomorrow evening at 5 PM at the museum (corner of 6th and Broad streets).
- In your conversations with friends, ask the question: “Which charities do you support on an annual basis?”
- Check out the leadership, staff, and budget of each non-profit you are interested in supporting. There are many examples of excellence in the CSRA. My favorites are the Boy Scouts, the Boys and Girls Clubs, the Community Foundation of the CSRA, Christ Community Health, and Good Neighbor Ministries.
- Encourage your children and grandchildren to support good causes. In our case, we send checks to our grandchildren every year. These funds are allocated to charities of their choice. By getting them in the habit of giving, we hope this commitment will carry on for the rest of their lives.
- If you are raising funds for a major project, ask BIG. Here is an example. In 2008, $1.2 million was needed to complete the upper rooms at St Paul’s Church. Ten wealthy folks, who loved St Paul’s, were asked for $100,000 each. The result: five folks gave $100,000, three gave $50,000 and four more gave $25,000. By getting past the halfway mark during the first month of the campaign, the finish line was reached in less than six months. The River Room and the Berlin Room have been very popular for wedding receptions, fundraising events, and corporate meetings as well as dinners and luncheons. Rental income from these rooms has become an important part of Saint Paul’s annual budget.
In future articles, I will examine, in greater detail, other aspects of leadership among non-profits.
Perry Smith’s latest book is Listen Up: Stories from Pearl Harbor, Vietnam, the Pentagon, CNN and Beyond. His books are available on amazon.com.
