Retailers urged to build lasting legacycontinued from page 1 Golf theme drives foundation campaign to reach $1 millionMichigan Retailers Foundation is launching an aggressive campaign to increase assets to $1 million in order to provide a major boost to MRA’s scholarship program. The campaign challenges every retailer to build his or her own legacy through tax-deductible contributions to the Foundation to help young people pay for college education and start on the road to a successful future. For the first time, the Foundation will establish different contributor levels and provide increasing recognition to members as they move up the giving ladder. The golf-themed “Links to a Legacy” campaign consists of levels ranging from under $1,000 (Medalists) to above $10,000 (Legacy Club). Contributors at the Legacy Club level will have an annual scholarship named for them or their business and earn a spot on a “Wall of Fame” MRA will create inside the Lansing headquarters. D. Larry Sherman, a member of the MRA Board of Directors who has been long active in the scholarship program, is serving as chair of the campaign. “This isn’t your typical, one-shot fundraising effort,” said Sherman, retired president of the former Sherman Shoes in Birmingham. “We’re encouraging retailers—no, we’re challenging them—to build a lasting legacy for themselves through regular, continuing contributions to a cause that benefits the entire retail community.” The Foundation was established by MRA in 1968 and currently has assets of approximately $430,000. Interest earnings from the assets are used to provide college scholarships to the families of MRA members and their employees, and to full-time students who work in MRA stores. The Links to a Legacy challenge is designed to more than double the Foundation’s assets by 2005. “More than 100 members have made voluntary contributions to the Foundation over the years despite the lack of a formal fundraising effort, and we appreciate all they have done,” said Sherman. “But our goal is to get thousands of our members to become regular contributors, for the sake of the students and themselves.” The scholarship program has awarded 12 one-year scholarships of $750 (public college or university) and $1,000 (private college or university) in each of the past two years—the most in its history. But more than 800 students applied for a scholarship during those two years, indicating that the scholarship program is falling short of the need that exists as college costs continue spiraling upward. “In an organization our size—5,800 members—we can do a much better job of helping our own,” said Sherman. “We know our members will step up to this challenge if they are asked. And now we’re asking.” |
Links to a Legacy |
First contribution right on targetThe fundraising campaign is off to a fast start, courtesy of Target Stores. Target contributed $4,500 to the Foundation in October at the request of Joe Swanson, MRA board member and mid-Michigan district team leader for Target Corporation. Swanson also serves on the board committee overseeing the fund-raising effort. “Target Corporation is committed to giving back to
communities in which we operate stores… |