“Links to a Legacy” more than halfway to goal One year after unveiling the “Links to a Legacy”
campaign, the Michigan Retailers Foundation’s fund-raising effort
is more than halfway to its goal of increasing assets to $1 million by
2005.
“I am excited about our fast start, but we have a
long way to make our million-dollar goal,” said Campaign Chair D.
Larry Sherman, a retired shoe retailer and long-time member of the MRA
Board of Directors. Helping the Foundation toward this goal are generous new
contributors such as Target Stores, which has reached the $10,000+ Legacy
Club level and will have a scholarship named for it each year. After contributing $4,500 at the beginning of the campaign,
Target Stores contributed another $5,000 this past October. Together with
contributions from Joe Swanson, the mid-Michigan district team leader
for Target Corporation and an MRA board member, Target Stores’ contributions
now total more than $10,000. “The Target Corporation family of giving programs
is proud to support nonprofit organizations such as yours that make our
communities a better place to live and work,” said Heather Faulkner,
a member of the Target community relations staff in a letter accompanying
the check. In another generous move, Sherman has pledged to fund
a scholarship in the name of his parents, Fred E. and Lillian Sherman.
Sherman already has a scholarship named for him because of his longtime
work on behalf of the foundation. “My parents started Sherman Shoes 78 years ago, and
they would be very pleased to be easing the financial burden of college
students,” said Sherman. The campaign challenges every retailer to build his or
her own legacy The campaign has established different contribution levels
ranging from under $1000 (Medalists) to above $10,000 (Legacy Club). As
retailers move up the giving ladder through regular, continuing contributions,
they receive increasing recognition and gradually build a lasting legacy
that benefits the entire retail community. The scholarship program has awarded 15 one-year scholarships
of $750 (public college or university) and $1,000 (private college or
university) for the past two years—the most in its history. But with
the cost of higher education spiraling higher every year, the need is
still greater than the scholarship program can currently meet. With the application deadline still five months away,
MRA is already receiving inquiries about next year’s scholarship
program, indicating the high level of interest in these scholarships and
the very real need for them. Application materials will be mailed to all MRA members
in late January. All employees and family members of MRA members are eligible
for the scholarships. “The year’s end is a natural time to consider
tax deductions such as contributions to worthy causes. Helping the young
people in the retail community pay for a college education is such a great
cause,” said Sherman. “By making a tax-deductible contribution to the Foundation today, you can begin or build on your own legacy. Please make your gift and get it started today.”. |
The
Foundation’s assets have risen to $737,272, up from $435,000 one
year ago. The $302,272 raised represents 53 percent of the goal, with
two years left.