New York State and Bermuda Lions Foundation

Newsletter

An open letter from the President

The Foundation is now fifteen years old. We have had a very successful fifteen years, but it has now become imperative to move forward from where we are. The Foundation has relied on methods of fundraising that basically date back to the inception of the Foundation. We raise money primarily from the annual car raffle, the Robert J. Uplinger Distinguished Service Awards and the Contributing Club and Contributing Member Awards. We have ventured into Planned Giving Donations, because a Lion's house was donated to the Foundation in his will. Other than that we have no other source of income. Our best year for our car raffle was 2005, when we took in $105,000. The raffle sales have been decreasing and this past year we only took in $90,000. We fear that this year the amount will be lower. There are various reasons for this drop in revenue. The economy has had a large impact on sales.

In an effort to find new sources of income for the Foundation, I created a Fundraising Committee, whose main goal is to find and develop new sources of revenue. The Fundraising Committee will have the primary responsibility for developing and implementing marketing plans for the purpose of raising funds to fulfill the purposes of the Foundation. The number of Trustees assigned to the committee has been increased and procedures have been implemented to ensure accountability. In addition the Public Relations Committee has been tasked with working closely with the Fundraising Committee to help insure the success of our fundraising endeavors.

Some of the planned goals that I have set for the Fundraising Committee are: a Planned Giving Program with an emphasis on bequests, honorariums and memorial gifts; the establishment of Fellowships (i.e. bronze, silver, gold, platinum); Grants to NYSBLF from other Foundations, etc.; contributions from major corporations and other sources; NYS license plates, bearing the Lions logo for which the Foundation will receive the $25 renewal fee paid to the NYS DMV annually.

Goals that I have set for the Public Relations Committee include: a new glitzier web page which will have links that work, on-line forms and brochures and the ability for users to make on-line donations, etc.; a web page newsletter (rather than a blank page); new flyers with the Foundations Mission Statement all of which will be geared to our Fundraising Activities.

Unfortunately, the timing for this move forward could not come at a worse economic time. As the nation and the world go through a serious recession with no end in sight, it will be very hard to solicit fund from individuals, Clubs, financial institutions and business entities. The plus side of this will be the time we have to develop these fundraising techniques for the future.

I implore all Loinss to make every effort to keep the Foundation and its activities visible in your Districts. This is your Foundation, benefiting your communities. We are your MD-20 Service Multiplier. We provide assistance through the grant process and direct or indirect programs and services, with an emphasis on sight, hearing and humanitarian services, assisting your Clubs and Districts in support of their charitable efforts throughout New York State and Bermuda.

PDG Gil Abrams

Immediate Past President

New York State & Bermuda Lions Foundation, Inc.