IT'S TIME TO DOUBLE YOUR GIFT TO THE MUSEUM - Challenge Match

[RachelWHughes]

Good morning, everyone!

I'm happy to say that the Club was again selected to participate in the Wayne County Foundation Challenge Match! That means your donations could be matched if they are given between November 1 - 9. It's easy to give. Just go the Club website - mtfca.com - and click the DONATE button in the upper right hand corner or call us! I love to talk with our members. That number is 765-373-3106. Office hours are 9a - 5p Eastern Standard time. If you don't get an answer, I'm probably talking to someone else so leave me a message with your phone number and I'll call you back.

Your club leadership - Board of Directors and staff - has pledged their support. This is a GREAT opportunity to grab some grant money and show your support of our Museum. COVID hit us hard, folks. Admissions and sales in our gift shop are way down and we could use your support!

If you have any questions, call me or post them here and I'll answer them. Please give as you are able STARTING MONDAY and keep the Model T legacy alive for future generations of T driversl!!

[Don D]

Rachel,

Thank you for your service to our members. I will drop a check in the mail Monday.

Dom

[KLTagert]

Our donation will be in-coming next week to meet the 9 Nov deadline.
The care and support of those beautiful museum facilities and wonderful collection is only possible with the support of volunteers, donations, and visitors. we are also fortunate to be located in Wayne County that recognizes the significance of the Model T museum, not only to the community as an economic factor, but to the historical significance of the Model T. The Wayne County Foundation and the donations by Model T enthusiasts helps sustain this worthwhile program. As a member of the Board of Directors we appreciate any and all support.

[TheSaintDiscJockey]

Have it bookmarked and will send my check out Monday.
Many thanks for everything you do for the club!

[RachelWHughes]

Thank you to every who replied! I appreciate your support of the Museum so very much. Now, let's get after this and raise some money for our amazing Museum!!!

[Hap_Tucker]

Rachel or someone else if you know the answer,

It is great to have an opportunity to help support our club and museum.

A short question -- when giving through the MTFCA website. I clicked on the "Donate" button at the top middle of my screen. It took me to a page where I could donate. But it did not say anything about the matching grant etc. so I stopped to ask: Is that the correct place to give online so the Wayne County Foundation will match our contribution? I just want to make sure I donate in the correct way so the club receives the matching grant.

Thank you Rachel and all the folks for supporting our club and museum.

Respectfully submitted,

Hap l9l5 cut off

[CudaMan]

I mailed my donation yesterday, 11/1/2021.

[Dave S]

I mailed ours this morning.

[RachelWHughes]

Yes, Hap. You're in the right place! Gifts made during November 1 - 9 will be counted for the Challenge Match. You don't need to specify that. Thanks for asking the question.

[RachelWHughes]

Unfortunately, the Vintage Ford is being held up again this month so if you could help spread the word to your Clubs, it would sure be appreciated! We need support from our Chapters and members and this is a great time to do it!! Let's take advantage of this opportunity to get these matching grant dollars.

[George_Akin]

Rachel You should be getting my donation. I did it thru my IRA and was able to make a Tax free donation to the MTFCA and museum.
This makes my money go further. The Museums needs our support in these difficult times.

[Hap_Tucker]

Rachael,

Thank you for the clarification. I made a donation through the site. It turned out that the "matching funds" were mentioned on that page. But I had zoomed in to make the print larger and the information was off the screen to the right.

Thank you again and thanks to everyone who volunteers, donates parts, money, questions, answers etc.

Respectfully submitted,

Hap l9l5 cut off

[TXGOAT2]

Please provide a mailing address where I can send a donation.

[Hap_Tucker]

Pat and Others,

Thank you for wanting to help support our club & museum. Below is the information on where to send a check (as well as how to give on line or call and give over the telephone). It looks a little fuzzy to me, but when I click on it, it shows up bigger and is much easier to read.

I'm a lot more conservative than many folks. If I didn't get it mailed until Nov 9, I would wait in line at the post office and ask the clerk to hand cancel it to make sure it had a postmark on the letter.

This reminds me of the story of the stone soup. As the different folks in the story contributed what they could spare -- a vegetable, spice, piece of meat etc. the better the soup became. And they also had more of it to share with others.

Grateful for the club we have,

Hap l9l5 cut off

[TXGOAT2]

Check will be in the mail by noon CST.

[RachelWHughes]

Thanks, Hap, for posting the address information. We've been super busy here in the office with Challenge Match donations and renewals!!

If folks want to give using a credit card to assure it gets to us during the Match period, call me at 765-373-3106. I can take your information over the phone. OR you can give thru the website, too, at mtfca.com/donate. With the mail being as slow as it is, you never know how long its going to take to get here.

While gifts have been coming in, we're still a long way from our goal so please help spread the word that we need everyone's support and this is a great time to do it!

[KeithG]

My dontion is already in the mail. Like others, I made my donation from my IRA. This makes it an even better donation due to the tax rules. I encourage others to use the IRA donation method also.

Keith

[J1MGOLDEN]

While I sent a donation, I have always wondered what the motivation was for these matching grant donations.

They seem to be quite popular, but what does the organization offering the matching grant get in return?

Motivation has always seemed to be lacking for the generosity of the organization making the donation.

[TXGOAT2]

I believe that promoting tourism would be one reason.

[Hap_Tucker]

For Jim --

From the Wayne County Foundation’s website at: https://waynecountyfoundation.org/challenge-match/ they have a quick summary shown below:

So, what is the Challenge Match?
The Wayne County Foundation’s Challenge Match Initiative grew out of a need to help local not-for-profit organizations raise unrestricted operating dollars more efficiently. It quickly became a means to help organizations strengthen their development functions and a fun way for donors to express which charities are most important to them. Perhaps most importantly – at least from the Foundation’s perspective – the Challenge Match became a very positive and highly-visible way to encourage charitable giving in our community.

If you go to their website, you can see that they are helping approximately 40 non-profits in Wayne County. And yes, they are interested in helping Wayne County grow and stay healthy. And of course Richmond and our museum are located in Wayne County. In my limited understanding since I don’t live there yet, the Depot District of Richmond was like a lot of other older parts of many other cities. It was looking run down and not a place that attracted business or promoted people to come out and go to a restaurant or bookstore etc. But the city as well as the county and more importantly the people near there have benefitted from the turn around that area has done and is continuing to experience. The matching grant helps our Club and Museum grow. And both of those are one more “positive” input to that part of town.
I hope that helps answer some of your question.

For all who support our club and museum, through talking to folks about our cars and hobby, donating time or resources, or just taking time to give someone a ride or a "photo op" in their car -- thank you so much!

Respectfully submitted,

Hap l9l5 cut off

[KLTagert]

Through the Wayne County Foundation and our generous Model T donors, it helps keep the Model T museum relevant. Not just to Club members, but helping us to remain Trip Advisors #1 Place to visit in Richmond - because our museum is so unique. Yes - a lot of museums have a Model T or two, however; none are dedicated to the Model T as we are. And our wonderful volunteers ensure we stay in tiptop shape researching every change made to insure its financially viable.

Thanks to all those who’s participated in Challenge Match.

[RachelWHughes]

Well said, again, Hap and Kathy!

I'd just add that Community Foundations exist to help nonprofits. They are a connector between those who have money and those who need it. They can establish endowments on behalf of nonprofit organizations, can accept 'hard to manage' estate gifts, and can set up deferred gifts such as gift annuities and such on behalf of nonprofit organizations.

[J1MGOLDEN]

A good view!

I have just always wondered!!!

I have visited the museum several times and there is always something new to see there.

I do consider my donation a very worth while gift!

I'm sure I will visit and donate again!

[RachelWHughes]

Thanks to everyone who gave, we exceeded the challenge put before us and WILL get the $10,000 grant! We haven't finished processing all the gifts yet so you'll have to wait just a little longer to see just how awesome you all were.

My sincerest thanks for all the support. You are amazing!

If you missed this matching grant opportunity, don't fret! The Board and I have issued another challenge through the end of the year so you still have until December 31 to match your gifts. You guys are being led by an extraordinary group of individuals who put their money where their mouths are. Please join them - and me - in giving if you haven't already. The Museum is worth it.