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MTM begins bold new adventure to enlarge its base of advocates and meet increasing demand

by Dr. John Carpenter, MTM Director of Development

In the February 1999 Board of Trustees meeting, I was introduced as the new part-time Director of Development for MTM. The Board knew my career included helping churches, associations and a college raise millions of dollars. Also, the Board knew MTM was not ready for a big money raising campaign to adequately address the projected demand for our services over the next five years.

Then, "Let’s get ready," they exclaimed in unison. They decided to have meetings designed to grow MTM’s base of advocates and, at the same time, raise money for the Foundation’s work.

The first step of that getting ready happened in June at the First Baptist Church in Richmond, VA. A group of 80 people attended MTM’s first Informational/Fund Raising Dinner. The Richmond area Trustees underwrote the table costs for eight to ten people and they invited their friends, who knew very little to nothing about MTM, to join them for dinner.

Fantastic is a good word for how the evening went. The guests had a good time. The program was short and directly to the point. The approach was low-key with absolutely no pressure to pry loose any money. The result is -- we gained many new people in the MTM Advocates and they are well informed and "amazed" by the MTM professionalism and activities. They pledged $7,000 to our organization and already have paid more than $5,000 of the pledges.

After our first effort, the Board screamed for more! And, more there will be -- the next Informational/Fund Raising Dinner is scheduled for Birmingham, AL on September 30 at the Vestavia Hills Baptist Church. Then, on October 7, we will have our third dinner in Louisville, KY at the St. Matthews Baptist Church.

Chip Tarkenton is Fran Tarkenton's nephew and the sports Anchor for channel 8 TV in Richmond.  He gave a stirring talk, "Fanning the Flame."

A board member enlisted his brother-in-law, John Montgomery, a professional entertainer, to provide music and fun.  He's from Springfield, MO.

Editor's Note:
We invite all people reading these words to join the MTM mission of providing quality C.A.R.E for Care Givers.