TC Patriot Game to Benefit Vets

From TC Ticker - link below July 3, 2014

Proceeds from the Traverse City Patriot Game – the annual football clash between the Central Trojans and West Titans on September 12 – will once again benefit Reining Liberty Ranch, a program that helps returning northern Michigan veterans. Reining Liberty received more than $13,000 last year and used the money to purchase a new horse, build shelters and piloted an eight-week veterans program. The group was selected by Student Senate leaders from both Central and West. "The students were very impressed with how the ranch used last year's money," says West football coach Tim Wooer. "But they felt another boost from this year's event will help veterans dealing with PTSD and other trauma through new support programs." T-shirts will be sold and donations accepted to raise money. A portion of the funds will also go toward an eventual permanent veterans memorial at Thirlby Field. More info about the game and fundraising efforts is available by contacting the athletic departments at either school. Permalink

Solstice Run Meets $30k Goal

June 30, 2014: TC Ticker of Traverse City Business Magazine
The recent Solstice Run – a 40-mile run through the night organized by TC-based On The Ground – met its $30,000 goal, officially launching Project Congo. The funding will launch programming in the Democratic Republic of Congo to raise awareness for female farmers and to make lives better for the Congolese women and their families. Permalink

Former Timbers Girl Scout Camp Permanently Protected

June 26, 2014: The Ticker of Traverse City Magazine

The approximately 250-acre Timbers Recreation Area – formerly the Timbers Girl Scout Camp for 50 years – will be turned over to Long Lake Township and open to the public by the end of August. The Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy (GTRLC) confirms that a fundraising goal of $891,300 was met with just days to spare to permanently protect the recreation area. These matching funds followed a $2.1 million grant award from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund in December 2012. The property includes nearly 9,000 feet of water frontage – 2,000 feet on Long Lake, the entire 20-acre Fern Lake within its boundary with 4,500 feet of shoreline, and approximately 2.400 on Page Lake. The property also features a network of two-tracks and trails with potential for future trails. Development of the property's management plan and activities will be conducted by the township with assistance from the conservancy. "The property was such a mystery," says Glen Chown, executive director of the GTRLC. "So many people around the lake had never set foot on it because it was a camp, and they respected the privacy of the Girl Scouts. It's so close to Traverse City and yet it's real wild country." Discussion about preserving the former Girl Scouts camp began in 2004, with negotiations to purchase the property from the Girl Scout Council in 2009. Interim buyers Don and Gerry Oleson purchased he property in 2012, holding it while the township awaited the decision on the grant award. Fundraising included an anonymous $150,000 match for all donations, a $25,000 match for donations made by, or in honor of, former Timbers campers and staff members, a $20,000 match for all donations made by Long Lake Association members, support from the Long Lake Foundation and the sale of the old troop house. Girl Scout alumnae also held a reunion and yard sale, with former scouts traveling from as far away as Alaska to support conservation of the property. Permalink

Donation Will Help Sheriffs Get New K-9

June 25, 2014: The Ticker of the Traverse City Business Magazine

The Grand Traverse Sheriff’s office says that a grant from the Art and Mary Schmuckal Family Foundation will allow the department to purchase a new narcotic detection K-9 to replace the recently lost K-9 Yogi, which had served Grand Traverse County and surrounding areas. The Art and Mary Schmuckal Family Foundation grant will cover the cost of the K-9 as well as all associated training. The narcotics detection K-9 is a multipurpose K-9 also able to search for missing persons, track criminals and provide officer protection. Permalink

Father Fred Raises $58k, Receives Additional $25k

June 25, 2014: The Ticker of Traverse City Business Magazine

Supporters of The Father Fred Foundation raised $58,103 during the five-week long Art Van Charity Challenge, good enough for sixth place and an additional $25,000 grant from Art Van Furniture. Organizations from all over the Midwest competed in the fundraising challenge, though Father Fred was the only northern Michigan charity. The donations will go toward Father Fred's housing assistance program with the grant further supporting housing efforts, as well as the food pantry and financial aid programs. Permalink

Fundraising Questions I'm Most Often Asked

From Harvey McKinnon, posted on Guidestar

June 2014

When you've been in this field long enough, and maybe have a few books to your credit, you're often invited to speak at conferences. It's a great way to stay in touch with the many wonderful people in this profession. I get to reconnect with the wise elders and meet the passionate newcomers.

Invariably at the end of my presentations I'm asked a number of wide-ranging questions. Many are highly specific, but others pertain to most every organization. Here are some of the questions I'm most commonly asked.

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Cheers to donors via the Record Eagle

From Record Eagle Editorials and their "Cheers" Section
23 June 2014

To private donors who came up with $35,000 to pay for five water fountains/filling stations sprinkled around Traverse City.

The fountains are an innovative, albeit modest approach to stem the flood of plastic water bottles that fill city trash containers. Water will be available for a quick drink or to fill empty bottles.

Donors include the National Cherry Festival, Hagerty Insurance, CH2M Hill, at least one anonymous donor and Traverse City mayor Michael Estes and his wife Rhonda.

“The whole idea was to reduce the level of plastic water containers that sit in our public parks,” Michael Estes said. It’s a good idea that could and should catch on.

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