June 4, 2007

SAULT STE. MARIE - What makes this tour exciting is the new things I've learned about MRA. What did I learn today? The value and positive experience the Michigan Retailers Foundation is providing for our members.

The foundation, which funds the MRA Scholarship Program through its interest earnings, now has assets above $1 million. And it continues to grow in size--and number of scholarships awarded—through individual contributions, a small portion of members’ renewal dues and retention of 25 percent of the annual interest earnings.

So what happened today? Well, Steve Mason, general manager of Lighthouse.net in Sault Ste Marie, showed up for the breakfast to tell me how happy his daughter was to be a recipient of one of this year's scholarships. Get this--she is using the scholarship at Northwood University (my alma mater) to study fashion design and retailing. It does not get any better than this.

For additional information about a breakfast near you, contact Kammy Johns at 517.372.5656 or kjohns@retailers.com.