The Match Game

If you're old enough to recognize the man on the left, you probably also remember the man on the right - Gene Rayburn, host of The Match Game.

We've been playing our own version of The Match Game during the past few months, reminding and encouraging donors to apply for employee designated gifts or employer matches for the gifts they make to ThriVe. It's an easy way for donors to increase their gifts. A list of companies in the St. Louis area known to match gifts is now on our website. During the past week, we've received FOUR such gifts - from Boeing, Monsanto, MasterCard, and Safeco! As Gene would say..."We've got a match!"

With input from the Board's Development Committee, we're finalizing a strategy aimed to create a Circle of Friends - donors who commit to introducing ThriVe to two new prospective donors each year, thus creating a steady stream of qualified referrals from which to cultivate recurring and increased-level gifts.

We're pleased to have received a generous offer this week from West-Central Saint Louis County Lutherans for Life - an invitation to request up to $300 every 90 days for pregnancy resource needs. Thanks to City Center volunteer Becky Deveydt for championing ThriVe within Lutherans for Life!

The latest issue of Connections, our quarterly newsletter, will be arriving in your mailbox within the next week or so. If you would like to have additional copies to distribute through your business, at your church, or though some other venue, please call me at 314-783-3040 ext 225.

And if you don't recognize the man on the left, it's probably because you aren't accustomed to seeing him with his shirt or without his medals!

It's August Already - how are we doing?

Tuesday was a big news day for ThriVe as volunteers, clients and staff were featured on KSDK Channel 5's Show Me St. Louis at 3:00 pm. While resource client Trish spoke to TV viewers about our ongoing need for diapers, wipes and other baby supplies and equipment that clients earn through accomplishment, St. Charles County Regional Manager Myrna Conrad and CEO Mark Dungan spoke with Harold Hendrick on KSIV AM 1320. Myrna explained the critical need for in-kind donations and Mark introduced the opportunity for churches and other organizational groups to 'adopt' a resource room for one month, stocking it with diapers, onesies, baby wipes, baby towels and washcloths and other program necessities.

Save the date! We have secured our corner for Old Newsboys Day: Thursday, November 20! We will be selling papers on 4561-4569 Forest Park Ave, right by the Panera Bread Co - aka St. Louis Bread Company, aka Bread Co, aka where LOTS AND LOTS of people stop in for coffee, pastries and wi-fi. All Newsies are asked to report in to the corner of Euclid and Forest Park Avenue by 6am and stay until 9am. We have 350 papers to sell – and a great spot – so come ready to ThriVe! Let Erin know of you would like to sign up. 314-783-3040, ext 225.

One of our donor cultivation and stewardship goals is to have made personal contact with approximately 150 donors by the end of September, visiting with them about their specific areas of interest in our mission, asking for referrals to friends who may be like-minded, and offering opportunities for continued investment in ThriVe. We're making calls, setting appointments, and visiting with donors daily.

Our Sanctity of Human Life initiative will begin officially in October, but you'll hear rumblings about it and how we plan to engage groups as well as individuals during the coming weeks.

Last week, in our St. Louis City location, 6 volunteers from all over the U.S. - in St. Louis through Group Work Camps Foundation - worked a total of 64 person-hours during 2 days. Their tireless efforts at landscape maintenance, routine clerical tasks, cleaning, assembling and organizing saved us time and money. And they also made congratulatory cards for upcoming Resource graduates!

Please let me know anything you hear about us, good or bad, within your sphere of influence. We're working to advance our organization and our mission and appreciate knowing what is and is not working!