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I recently reconnected with a very close childhood friend for a long overdue catch-up conversation. Things started out with the standard check-ins about kids, jobs, and who else in our friend group we had seen lately. But as the conversation went on, we moved into deeper, more important stories about big happenings in our lives. Some stories were inspiring and hopeful. Others were painful and sad. Through all of it, I couldn’t help but feel this immediate nostalgic bond with my friend bubbling up, feeling like it was just yesterday that we were as close as friends could be. In actuality, it has been over three decades since we last spent any meaningful time together.
Tuesday, March 30th was National Doctor’s Day. So, a special shout out to all the docs out there for what you are doing, especially those physicians and other health care workers risking their own health and sacrificing time with their families to treat COVID-19 patients over the past year.
One of my favorite movies is Forrest Gump, and one of my favorite parts of the movie is when Forrest returns from the war in Vietnam and buys a shrimp boat business, naming it Bubba Gump Shrimp. With no shrimping experience and an over-abundance of competition, Forrest has limited success. That is, until Hurricane Carmen hits the Gulf Coast. The storm decimates the shrimping industry in the area. Forrest Gump’s boat Jenny was at sea at the time of the hurricane. It suffered damage from the storm but was not destroyed by being blown on land like other boats. Forrest's business prospered after the hurricane, leading to an abundance of shrimp while also eliminating much of the competition. He turned his profits into multimillion dollar investments and fame within the financial world.
I read an article in the Chronicle of Philanthropy this week written by Joan Garry, a consultant, author, and speaker who has been called the “Dear Abby of Nonprofit Leaders” for her advice. The article, "How to Ask for Money During a Crisis," offers sage advice for those tasked with fundraising during this challenging season of pandemic. I commend this easy read and encourage you to share it with your staff, board members, and volunteers as a quick training piece as you prepare for this all-important, yet unique, end of year giving season.
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