Military Officer - December 2006 - (Page 56)

P In April 2005, the chapter hosted its ﬁrst golf tournament to beneﬁt the American Patriot Scholarship program. The tournament drew 76 golfers and netted $14,000. The April 2006 tournament saw 100 golfers participate and netted $18,400. In a little more than a year’s time, the tiny chapter had raised enough money to establish a scholarship. in only ﬁve years’ time is quite a commitment, but that’s exactly what members of the Heart of Texas Chapter did in 2005 when they decided to establish an American Patriot Scholarship through The Scholarship Fund of MOAA. Former chapter President Col. Nelson Modrall, USA-Ret., came up with the idea after reading an article in Military Ofﬁcer about the American Patriot Scholarship program, which helps the children of uniformed services personnel who died in active service. Chapter members needed to raise $30,000 within ﬁve years (that amount has since increased to $50,000) to establish an American Patriot Scholarship, which would bear the chapter’s name and exist in perpetuity. Before committing to the project, however, the 106 chapter members wanted to ﬁnd out how much money they could raise if they took their annual golf tournament fundraiser to the next level. L E D GING TO RA I SE $3 0,000 ative fundraising techniques ensured the tournaments’ success. (For a stepby-step guide on how to start and run a golf fundraiser, visit www.moaa.org/ fundraiser; to learn how chapters can start a national scholarship, visit www.moaa.org/chapterfunds.) Prior to the tournaments, Rosalind solicited area business owners, who donated cash, prizes, and coupons. This allowed the chapter to structure the tournament so golfers would have a chance to win a prize on every hole — a move that attracted more players. Another creative fundraising technique the chapter used was to have 40 individuals and business owners pay $150 apiece to sponsor a hole, which raised an additional $6,000 for the scholarship fund. Members also sold eagles and mulligans for $5 apiece. Not surprisingly, 100 golfers paid $10 more apiece purchasing eagles and mulligans to ensure they would have a strategic playing advantage, netting an additional $1,000 for the chapter. To increase participation, members of the media were invited to the event, as well as several high-proﬁle Creative fundraising Modrall, who cochaired both golf tournaments with his wife, Rosalind, says members’ hard work and cre56 MILITARY OFFICER DECEMBER 2006 PHOTOS: TOP RIGHT, COURTESY STUDENTS; RIGHT, COURTESY HEART OF ILLINOIS CHAPTER http://www.moaa.org/fundraiser http://www.moaa.org/fundraiser http://www.moaa.org/chapterfunds

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Military Officer - December 2006

From the Editor From the President Your Views MOAA Directory Rapid Fire Washington Scene Financial Forum Ask the Doctor Chapter Activities Cover Story: How to Fund the Future Martial Lore Good Night, Sleep Tight Mixed Review Information Exchange Advertising Index Member Books MOAA Calendar Sounding Taps MOAA Member Services

Military Officer - December 2006

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