President’s
Message - Frank McMeen
It looks like we have survived a very rough February. Spring will soon be here with flowers
blooming and birds singing. Bitter cold,
ice storms are certainly not part of our typical winter in the South, but it is
something for which we must be prepared.
When we look at the beautiful and historical properties that
we manage and preserve, if it were not for APTA, its leadership, vision and many, many
volunteers, these pieces of Tennessee history would not be here. They would not
have survived the many rough Februarys of the last century.
How do we survive the next century? (1) Volunteers! The future of each site is developing a
strong group of dedicated volunteers who believe in sharing our past with the
next generation and others in our future.
The next generation must connect with the value of each of these
properties. That connection will create
life into the next generation for these beautiful properties.
(2) Financial stability! The fundraising climate has
changed. Fundraising is not the same as
it was in 1950 when APTA was founded. Just as marketing the properties has
changed, so has how we generate dollars.
To assist in this effort to provide stability for APTA and
the chapters, the West Tennessee Healthcare Foundation will offer a challenge
grant to establish or grow APTA endowments. The Foundation will provide a
$15,000 challenge gift to APTA as a state organization and a $15,000 challenge
grant to the chapters as a group. For
every $3 given to the APTA’s endowment, the Foundation will provide an
additional dollar, up to $15,000, providing an immediate 30% return on your
investment. The chapter’s challenge grant will have a total of $15,000 where
gifts to chapter endowments will be matched with $1 for every $3 donated. All endowment funds are permanent and provide
an income stream for the organization and allow for growth so that the income
stream grows as well.
How else can the Foundation help our chapters and the APTA
as a state-wide organization? In
December we have the Christmas Challenge.
Again we match contributions made in memory or in honor of loved ones
with a $1 for every $3 contributed to endowments held at the Foundation. We set aside $100,000 in this pool and again,
these endowment contributions are permanent and are used as the beginning of
providing chapters and the APTA with long-term financial stability.
This challenge begins in July so begin to make your plans to
grow or start your endowment.
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