As we begin our second year, I am pleased to report the first year results of the John S. Mulholland Family Foundation.
In the fall of 2013, the idea was just beginning to take form and we were actually incorporated on December 3, 2013. So our fiscal year is actually October 1 – September 30th. But, for the purposes of this note, I am speaking of calendar year 2014. We actually received our first monetary donation in January 2014 and collected our very first can of food one year ago today. But what we have done since then is very exciting because we met and exceeded every goal we set along the way.
In 2014, we collected and delivered 62,910 cans and packages of non-perishable food (the goal was 50,000) and delivered thousands of pounds of fresh produce, milk and eggs, meat and poultry. We did this through the generosity of thousands of churchgoers and high school students, corporate workers and other committed folks who responded to our plea. Those who said “no” did not dissuade us; there were far too many who said “yes” for that to matter.
We visited our pantries weekly to ensure that we could deliver what was needed versus what we thought they might like and refocused and re-energized our efforts as we went along. Board Member Monsignor Maury O’Connell was an invaluable asset obtaining the “yes” replies. And as we worked on the Lenten program, we had begun work on the summer program, and as we did that, we were working on the Gala, getting ready for the Greg Gannon Food Drive, and preparing for the holidays.
Our first Gala, “A Capital Evening” was a resounding success. In my last quarterly message, I already thanked the many people who made that possible, so let me share the results of their efforts with you. We raised $50,290 in our first effort (the goal was $40,000), and 66% of that was net profit. According to both the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and James Greenfield’s book Fundraising: Evaluating and Managing the Fund Development Process, successful benefits/special events should have a fifty cent net return on every dollar raised. So, how did we far exceed that measure and do so in our first year, when many organizations fail to even come near the 50% goal?
The answer is relatively simple: The Gala was expertly managed and we watched every dollar spent. Sure, there are more glamorous events held in Washington each year, more glitzy, more frills. But, when your mission is to feed the inner city poor, the glitz is “nice, but not necessary.” The bottom line is that the guests all reported having a wonderful time and it truly was a memorable and elegant evening. But none of us forgot why were there. And, the second reason is that every single one of our vendors generously provided their goods and services to us either free or at cost; we paid full rate for nothing.
So, what becomes of the money? The proceeds ensure that every one of our pantries – and the families we serve – are fully stocked today and will remain so every day this year. It ensures that we can provide more fresh and nutritional food.
That is a big step from where we were last year, friends. A year ago, these pantries would often run out of food. It was not uncommon to turn folks away at the door for lack of anything to offer them. That hasn’t happened in many months and you have my assurance it will not happen again. Because our commitment is solemn and it is backed by many like-minded people who have stepped up to the plate and supported us.
They are the high school students and churchgoers who contribute the canned goods; they are the donors who mail in checks and contribute online that enable the purchase of the fresh food; they are friends who send us Giant gift cards; they are the Board Members who serve as our goodwill ambassadors, broadening our base of appeal; they are many church partners, who help both financially and with in-kind donations; they are local companies who sponsor food drives; they are the Gala attendees who say they will not only be back, but they are bringing friends; they are the vendors who have donated their goods and services; they are partners like the Greg Gannon Family, who facilitated our largest single day collection of food — more than 13.000 cans!
I consider myself the luckiest man in Washington, because I actually get to meet many of the people you have helped. The gratitude on their faces and in their hearts is something I am not talented enough to properly express to you. But know this – you have made an incredible impact on their lives and the lives of their families.
We have probably not put much of a dent in the actual food insecurity rate in the District of Columbia, but know this: The hundreds of families we have taken on at three pantries in three of the poorest neighborhoods of our city no longer have to worry about where they will find help. We – you and I – are there for them.
And I hope you feel very good about that.
God love you.
