Let's all "Gimme Five"...and help ensure the future of Mooseheart and Moosehaven
Five years from now, in 2012, the men and women of Moose International will face a tough choice: Whether to continue to operate our Mooseheart Child City and School in Illinois and Moosehaven retirement community in Florida, or shut one of these facilities down.
The hard financial facts tell the story:
· Every year, the combined budgets to run Mooseheart and Moosehaven are a whopping $32 million.
· Every year, the fraternity's two most important and time-honored humanitarian endeavors open with a $32 million deficit.
· Every year, these costs are increasing-so much so that in five years it will simply not be possible to continue to operate both of these facilities any longer.
A tough choice, indeed.
Fortunately, there's a smart choice that we all can make today that will help assure that that tough choice will never have to be made.
At the recent International Convention in Orlando, Florida, Leonard Solfa, Chief Operating Officer of Moose International, launched "Gimme Five," a program designed to ensure the future funding of Mooseheart and Moosehaven through a modest donation from Moose membership.
If the entire membership of the Loyal Order of Moose and Women of the Moose makes the smart choice to participate in Gimme Five, we will raise enough money over the next five years to allow the returns on the investment of those funds to sustain the operations of Mooseheart and Moosehaven indefinitely-without the need to request additional donations every year.
Gimme Five isn't just smart. It's also simple.
How simple is Gimme Five? How about this:
Every day for five years, you simply set aside five cents in the morning, five cents in the evening, for the kids of Mooseheart and the seniors of Moosehaven.
· Five cents in the morning, from the change you put into your pocket or purse as you head out the door.
· Five cents in the evening, from the coins you accumulate during the day.
That's it-Gimme Five. It's really nothing more than that. But it's also nothing less than this: a systematic fundraising plan that will help ensure the financial future of Mooseheart and Moosehaven, without having to keep coming to Moose members to ask for more.
Nickel by nickel, Gimme Five really adds up!
Remember the wisdom of our Enrollment Ritual? "A burden heavy to one is borne lightly by many." With that in mind, let's run the numbers for Gimme Five.
We honestly believe that very, very few of our nearly 1.3 million Moose men and women will find it a hardship to set aside a nickel in the morning and a nickel at night for the kids of Mooseheart and the seniors at Moosehaven. But let's be conservative and say that only one million members will participate in Gimme Five.
For each of those caring members, five cents in the morning, five cents in the evening is ten cents a day, 70 cents a week or $36.50 a year-about the cost to fill up your car's gas tank just one time. Over the five-year program, each participant's total contribution will be $182.50.
Now let's multiply these modest amounts by one million members. That's $36.5 million per year. After five years, by the end of 2012, the total is $182.5 million-and that's before the accumulating investment interest is added in. And if all 1.3 million members participate in Gimme Five, the numbers are even more impressive-more than $240 million total!
Imagine $182.5 million plus, invested for the kids of Mooseheart and the seniors of Moosehaven-all from five cents in the morning and five cents in the evening, every day for five years.
Yes, it really is that simple-but participating in Gimme Five is even easier:
Here's how to Gimme Five
We could provide every Moose member with a piggy bank to collect their loose change. But instead of trying to remember to physically set aside a nickel in the morning and a nickel in the evening every day from now through 2012, we're offering a few simpler ways to participate in Gimme Five:
· Mail a check for your annual gift of $36.50 or your total five-year gift of $182.50 to: Moose Charities, 155 S. International Dr., Mooseheart, IL 60539.
· Call Moose Charities at 630-966-2200 and donate by providing credit card or debit card information over the phone.
· Visit the Moose Charities web site at www.moosecharities.org and make a secure online donation.
· Sign up for direct debit on the Gimme Five Direct-Debit Plan web page at www.moosecharities.org
· At state, regional, provincial or international conventions, visit the Moose Charities booth and donate using cash, check or credit card. If there is no Moose Charities booth, ask to see your Association's Moose Charities Committee Chairperson.
When making your donation, please specify that the funds are to be used for Gimme Five. All contributions to Gimme Five will be kept separate from other donations, ensuring that they will not be used for any other purpose. And because Moose Charities is registered with the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)3 charity, your entire Gimme Five contribution is 100% tax-deductible.
To ensure a better tomorrow, make the smart choice today
If every Moose participates in the Gimme Five program, we can reach a goal which our fraternity has struggled with for more than 90 years-financial security for Mooseheart and Moosehaven. By participating in Gimme Five, the membership of the Moose will take a giant step towards ensuring the future of Mooseheart for the children who attend now and those who will attend in the future, and for securing Moosehaven as a place where our seniors can always find the caring comfort they deserve.
Freed from the need to direct funds to Mooseheart and Moosehaven each year, we will be able to return our financial focus to Moose Lodges, Chapters, Legions, Associations and communities-the foundations upon which this great fraternity was established over a century ago-and revitalize our initiatives to grow our organization.
For decades, we have expressed our pride in these two great Moose humanitarian missions, and our members have told us, loudly, clearly and repeatedly, that they want to keep these two campuses healthy and operating well into the future. The Gimme Five program can establish a legacy we can all be proud of-but only if we all participate.
Together, let's make it happen-and Gimme Five!
For more information on Gimme Five giving options, please e-mail perry@mooseintl.org or talk with your Lodge or Chapter Gimme Five Co-Chairperson. You also have Gimme Five District Co-chairpersons, State Co-Chairpersons and Regional Chairpersons. The National Co-Chairpersons are Past Grand Chancellor Tonie Ewoldt and Past Supreme Governor Tommy Hatcher.
Gimme Five FAQs
Who should contribute to Gimme Five?
Every member of the Loyal Order of Moose and the Women of the Moose is urged to contribute. The program will only be successful if near-100% participation is achieved.
What is my fair share to fund the campaign?
Give the equivalent of 10 cents a day or 70 cents per week, which is $36.50 a year for five years, for a total of $182.50.
How much should I donate to start?
This is up to you-any amount will be appreciated as long as you reach the $182.50 total within five years. The sooner we receive your donation, the more interest it will earn for Mooseheart and Moosehaven.
Can I donate more than the $182.50?
Yes, you can certainly donate more! $182.50 is simply the suggested minimum amount needed to make the Gimme Five program successful.
What will the Gimme Five money be spent on?
None of the funds donated will be spent until the campaign is funded. Then only the interest will be spent, leaving the principal untouched.
What will be done with interest from the campaign when it is fully funded?
We are working on plans to make Moosehaven a breakeven facility, so most of the interest will go to fund operations at Mooseheart, with a lesser amount going to Moosehaven.
How do I enroll in the Gimme Five Campaign?
No enrollment is necessary. Simply make your donation by cash, check, credit card or electronic debit payable to Moose Charities and indicate that it is to be used for Gimme Five.
Can I make a donation online?
Yes, go to www.mooseintl.org and click to link to Moose Charities or go directly to www.moosecharities.org and click on the Gimme Five icon then follow the directions.
Can I set up an automatic withdrawals to fund my donations to Gimme Five?
Yes, go to www.moosecharities.org and download a Direct Debit enrollment form.
Where else can I make donations?
At District meetings, State Conventions, Annual Conferences, Mid-Year Conferences, International Convention held annually, and over the phone to Moose Charities, Inc.
Is my donation tax deductible?
Yes! Moose Charities has a 501(c)3 Tax status. Your donation will be confirmed with a "thank you" letter from Moose Charities, which will serve as proof of your tax-deductible donation.
