The "Inspiring Generosity" of a Matching Gift Program

Right before the New Year's Holiday--

You can imagine how tickled we were to open an envelope from a large communications company and find a check made payable to the Foundation (...for Amateur Intl. Radio Service, aka FAIRS, www.fairs.org)!  A year-end gift from a large corporation, matching a gift we received earlier in the year from one of our FAIRS members!

Now I will keep the member's name confidential until he instructs otherwise, but suffice it to say that he is a working father with a family to support, and he enjoys ham radio as one of his hobbies.  We don't get to meet with him or the family nearly enough (as it is with most people), but it was like receiving a "hello" from him just to receive these funds.  And, I thought, "what a great guy" to ask his employer to match funds he'd directed to support current FAIRS communications projects. 

Mind you, this is not all about the money, but about a person making maximum impact by his own funds and by submitting a request for the match.  Yes, it was inspiring, just like the company's website said (here too, I'll keep the company's name to myself until I talk to a representative)!

Matching funds is a wonderful way to cooperate toward increased monies for philanthropic works such as disaster relief & preparedness (like the groups involved helping Katrina victims, etc. and our own communications infrastructure projects), as well as community gifts, education and more. 

Perhaps you could be the hero at your next executive meeting by planning an initiative for similar support that benefits your local area!

73s to all--*This is an amateur radio sign of fraternalism like saying "Best Regards" or passing along warm feelings*

Dee

Article Source: http://www.lcfarticles.com/