It has truly been one of the most significant blessings of my professional career to be involved with the NAILBA Charitable Foundation. I currently sit on the board of this great foundation, served three terms previously, and my wife Hope has served a term as well as serving on the Grant Selection Committee. For the past 10 years a Howard has had the honor of serving the NAILBA organization and the communities where its members, vendors and carriers live.
The NAILBA Charitable Foundation is where altruism meets the business of NAILBA. Since its creation by Founder Col. J. William Felton III in 2002, the Foundation has encouraged volunteerism in the NAILBA community. NAILBA members and their corporate partners are encouraged to sponsor a charity they feel is working towards its mission of making dreams come true for those less fortunate. The Foundation is dedicated to providing grant funding to small, well-run charities that may not otherwise have access to additional funding. Since its inception, NAILBA Charitable Foundation grants have helped worthwhile philanthropic organizations plant seeds of change in their communities. We welcome grant applications from NAILBA members, partners, and corporate sponsors, and appreciate your efforts to improve conditions for those less fortunate.
The mission of the NAILBA Charitable Foundation is to encourage philanthropy and business to work hand in hand helping others who are at risk. Since 2002, the Foundation has raised and contributed nearly four million dollars to more than 270 deserving charities and community organizations nationwide.
2022 NCF grant recipients included The Formation Project, North Charleston, SC, providing housing and shelter support for victims of human trafficking; Corner House, Minneapolis, MN; The Hundred Movement, Skyland, NC, for expanding mental health and case management for sex trafficking victims; Caring For Kids, St. Louis, MO, providing beds for kids; Miami Diaper Bank, Miami, FL; Sheffield Place, KC, MO; Home Of The Sparrow, Exton, PA, homeless prevention efforts for women; Star Legacy Foundation, Eden Prairie, MN, for their pregnancy research project; The Woody Foundation, Coral Gables, FL; Court Appointed Special Advocates of Orange County, Santa Ana, CA, for their mentor advocate program; Down Syndrome of the Bay Area, Danville, CA, aiding communication readiness; Family Resources, Inc., Davenport, IA; LIFENET4FAMILIES, Lauderhill, FL, and their Food 4 Thought program; Promises 2 Kids, San Diego, CA, for their Camp Connect program; Wounded Warriors Family Services, Omaha, NE; Handy Inc., Ft. Lauderdale, FL, helping abused neglected disadvantaged youth; YBLC Youth Build Lake County, North Chicago, IL; Good Friend, Inc., Brookfield WI, for Good Friend Academy online learning; Camp One Step by Children’s Oncology Services, Chicago, IL, for their Utah Ski Program; Caruso Family Charities, Lakewood, CO, Sibling Support Fund; Catharine Violet Hubbard Foundation, Inc,, Newton, CT, for the Sunday at the Sanctuary project; Child Serve, Johnston, IA, playground equipment project; Family Service and Guidance Center, Topeka, KS, for the FSGC Youth Crisis Recovery Center; and For Belle’s Sake, Sawyer, ND, animal rescue focused on rehabilitation for forever homes.
Available column inches waning, 26 other worthwhile charities received grants from the NCF for the 2022 grant cycle.
The most moving component of the NAILBA annual conference is the recognition of these grant recipients and the wonderful work they do, as well as the long lasting thankfulness for the willingness of carriers, vendors, NAILBA members and staff in great numbers to embrace the concept of giving to those less fortunate than themselves. The NAILBA Charitable Foundation is the beneficiary of generous and enthusiastic participation in a silent auction and a boisterous and cut-throat live auction. At this year’s meeting carrier, marketing group and vendor donations totaled more than $205,000, while countless carriers, vendors, agencies and individuals contribute sizeably throughout the year to help the Foundation in its mission, proving that the NAILBA community digs deep so that others might enjoy some comforts and advantages they might not otherwise have. Please donate to the great work of the NAILBA Charitable Foundation by visiting https://www.nailbacharitablefoundation.org/donate.
And, it has truly been a delight all these years “Artful Codger”-ing folks for raffle tickets, and I’d like to thank all my “victims” from the bottom of my heart. But, In this life…One thing counts…In the bank…Large amounts…I’m afraid these don’t grow on trees…You’ve got to pick a pocket or two![SPH]
