As the end of our fiscal year approaches, the Foundation for ABC (FABC) is taking stock of its accomplishments. In the past two years we have raised over $500,000 in support of the ABC Professional Institute (API); funded scholarships for emerging leaders to attend ABC Meetings and Specialty workshops; and revised our bylaws and re-established our relationship with ABC-resulting in a reduction of administrative costs and enabling a larger portion of collected donations to directly fund our projects.
The API Learning Portal was rolled out in October 2016 and, recently, the first homegrown course, “Introduction to the Blood Banking Industry,” was released to great acclaim. So far, close to 500 ABC members have accessed the API over 2,200 times. While most of the funding for the API was obtained from our industry partners and was restricted to the API project, as with any foundation, the FABC still incurs costs to maintain day-to-day operations and continue the mission of supporting ABC members–this is where we need your assistance! I want to share a few ways you can help us achieve our fundraising goals before this year ends.
First, please consider entering the ABC’s Got Talent Show Season II, which will take place after the ABC Awards of Excellence on March 27 at the ABC Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. Those who attended the first show, two years ago, remember what a joyous and inspiring evening it was. We had an incredible display of talents-musicians, singers, dancers, and lasso performers to name a few! The audience was warm and supportive-we are a big family after all. So don’t be shy, take a few minutes and film your talent, send it to Jodi Zand and she will do the rest for you. The top five competitors will be invited to perform at the Annual Meeting. Remember, without talent, there will be no talent show, so whatever your talents are, let them shine, you won’t regret it! Encourage your colleagues, whom you know have a talent to share it with us. If you don’t want to share your talent, that’s okay-you still have the power to contribute by voting for your favorite act, maybe mine or Eva Quinley’s (coming soon!). Season 1 raised over $30,000 in unrestricted funds! We are all looking forward to a great evening of relaxation, good humor, camaraderie, and amazement at Season II’s show!
Another way to help raise funds is to attend the FABC reception at the luxurious Hay-Adams rooftop in D.C. on March 26. There will be views that are out of this world, wonderful food and drinks-including a very special cherry blossom martini-as well as entertainment, and a chance to catch up with your peers. If you can’t make it to either event, you can, of course, provide funds the old-fashioned way: write a tax-deductible check to FABC to help us close the year in good standing! Thank you for your support!
Pascal George; FABC President;Â pgeorge@cjbcblood.org