Funds were hard to find and hardly anyone would help...How naive could I be?
Our program would be a tennis instruction/substance abuse prevention program for kids residing in the projects. I was raised in the projects, we called it "brick city". Read interview of Say Yes To Tennis Director by Philanthropy Today So, bubbling with enthusiam I approached several social service agency directors to check their temperature. They were stone cold. They offered no insights or direction. In facrt most tried to disuade me. Admittedly I was more than a little shaken by these events. However through the support and encouragement and nagging of Ann Marie Barnes I went forward with my quest. Here's the thing. When it comes to grants the competition is fierce. Don't expect a lot of help. Although all funders want collaboration I've found few agencies willing to joint venture. Then it hit me. I would start the program with no money! I would have kids screaming and yelling and hitting tennis balls with such enthusiasm that anyoe (read funder) observing would be compeled to cough up some funds. That is exactly what happened. I applied to the Akron Community Foundation for a small grant. Actually a huge grant is more appropriate. Remember I was broke. The amount was for about ten thousand dollars. The President, Jodie Bacon, came to observe. She must have been impressed because her board approved our request. I owe Jodie Bacon a debt of gratitude for something she said to me while observing our program. She said, "Dan, we are more concerned about quality more than numbers". I have never forgotten. I have turned down business on several occassions simply because I knew in my heart I could not implement a quality program in that situation.
|
Guess what?
