Eliminate Project

We finally achieved the $1 million mark! As of the December report, New York has raised $1,061,547, thus saving more than 588,749 mothers and babies from MNT. Our goal us $1,796,314, so we still have to work hard to raise over $700,000 more by the Centennial Celebration in June.

However, there are some new ways to achieve our goal. I wrote briefly about the Model Club match and the Centennial Award in the last issue of ESK. Here are the some incentives:

MODEL CLUB MATCH: An anonymous donor has offered to give 20 percent of the amount remaining for any club that wishes to become a Model Club. So if a club needs to raise $22,000 to become a Model Club and has already raised $7,000, they still need to raise $15,000. With the 20% match giving them $3,000, they now only need to raise $12,000 spread over five years from the time that they sign the pledge form. For example, if they sign on as a potential Model Club on February 6, 2015, they have until February 6, 2020 to complete their pledge. (Please Note: although Bronze and Silver clubs are not eligible for the matching funds, they too have a five-year window to complete their pledges.)

CENTENNIAL AWARD: The 100th Anniversary Award is available for a donation of $1,500 which can be paid over two years. The donor will receive a commemorative lapel pin at the time of the initial donation and a custom-framed medallion and personalized certificate when the donation is completed. It is available only until June 28, 2015.

SAVE-A-BABY-A-DAY: Members can pledge to donate $1.80 per day over a one- or two-year period. Payments can be scheduled monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually, and taken directly from a credit card if desired. Or, as one woman who was excited about this idea said: "I’d like to put $1.80 aside each morning and then all day I will be aware that I did something good that day. If I can’t do this is the morning, I will empty my purse in the evening and put in my $1.80. Then, no matter how my day went, I can go to sleep knowing that I did something good that day." She recently emptied her container and gave me a check for $50, with a promise of more to come. If you would like to do this "hands on" as she is doing, you can send your check directly to the Kiwanis International Foundation or to me as she did.

But if you can’t do any of the above, please do something. What about a Baby-A-Week? Perhaps clubs who have not donated anything can become a 100 Mother and Baby Club for a donation of $180. The mothers and babies of the world are depending on us. We can’t let them down.
For further information on what you or your club can do, please contact me. Excelsior!

Column Posted on Web Site February 1, 2015