Turfgrass 2010 Highlights
Turfgras 2010 Highlights
Turfgrass 2010 is the first time the MTF has ever launched a comprehensive fundraising campaign in its history. This initiative has set an aggressive goal of raising $3.5 million by the end of the year 2010. This effort, approved by your board of directors, will further position the MTF in a leadership role for supporting turfgrass research, extension and scholarship in Michigan and nationally. Dollars raised as part of this effort will allow increased annual funding of research and support projects and also significantly increase the three endowment funds to insure long-term stability of your foundation and its ability to address your research needs.
The goals of Turfgrass 2010 are:
- To double the annual research and support grants
- To increase the LaFontaine Endowment by $2.1 million
- To increase the Rieke Endowment to $210,000
- To increase the Founder’s Society Fund to $500,000
This campaign will help ensure that today’s research problems are aggressively addressed and that the fundamental research needed to solve tomorrow’s problems can be adequately funded.
In the coming months, each industry segment will be asked to develop specific fundraising targets for annual and planned giving and the mechanisms needed to achieve these targets. This activity will be coordinated by your MTF Board of Directors.
Some highlights of Turfgrass 2010 include:
- Annual giving goals for each industry segment set by MTF Board Member reps & committees.
- Special events like chapter fundraisers, Harley raffle, 50-50 drawings, auctions and state-wide golf events.
- “2010 Club” (LaFontaine Endowment)
- “210 by 2010” (Professor’s Endowment)
- “Show your pin to win” (Founder’s Society)
Fundraising Highlights for 2005
Following is an update of the latest contributions and volunteer efforts that have taken place as part of Turfgrass 2010:
- Tom Mason (Birmingham Country Club) will be chairing the Rieke Endowment campaign committee.
- The Michigan Green Industry Association (MGIA) has pledged $1,000.00 to the MTF annual fund to help support turfgrass research and extension activities.
- The Mid-Michigan Turf Association donated $6,000.00 to the MTF annual fund from their MTF fundraiser held at Four Lakes Golf Club on September 13, 2005 (Dave Pawluk, CGCS).
- Red Run Golf Club (Gary Thommes, CGCS) has increased their annual donation to the MTF to $10.00 per member per year.
- Mr. Robert Klein, a member at Bloomfield Hills Country Club (Dan Billette), has agreed to assist the MTF in the area of planned giving. Mr. Klein, an attorney by trade, has extensive fundraising experience and is knowledgeable in a number of mechanisms for planned gifts that will benefit the MTF while providing some estate planning advantages to donors.
- Dr. Joe Vargas and Gordie LaFontaine will be chairing the LaFontaine Endowment campaign committee.
The GAM member clubs making donations to the annual fund so far this fiscal year, which began October 1, 2005, are:
| Grosse Ile Golf Club | $ 550.00 | |
| Red Run Golf Club | Gary Thommes, CGCS | $ 5,035.00 |
| Yarrow Golf & Conference | Kathy Antaya | $ 100.00 |
| Egypt Valley Country Club | Jeff Holmes | $ 2,750.00 |
| Plum Brook Golf Club | Charles Kingsley | $ 500.00 |
| Lochmoor Club | Mike Jones, CGCS | $ 880.00 |
| Bay City Country Club | Dave Schwall, CGCS | $ 500.00 |
| Total | $10,315.00 |