BACK ON MY FEET: The Seed Has Been Planted

I received a lot of comments and feedback regarding my e-mail to the founder of Back on My Feet, the Philadelphia non-profit that attacks homelessness through running. (Original blog here)

There were a lot of e-mails and phone calls from blog readers, asking "Have you heard back from her yet?"

Like every good organization, I finally did.

Almost one week after sending the initial "I want to bring your incredible organization to Fort Worth" 

e-mail, I got a response from the Manager of Special Events and Communication. I knew it was a generic form reply – nicely camouflaged with my name and references to Fort Worth – I didn't care, though....

I WAS PUMPED!

The conversation had started 

(and for those that know me ... that's all I need.)

Here are the highlights from the organization's response – at least the parts I focused on (I also included my thoughts and/or actions in parenthesis):

• "... we are doing research for our next city now." 

(Fort Worth! Fort Worth! Fort Worth!)

• "It takes a lot of support to make the replication process a success and it would be great if we could count on your help." (You know you can!)

• "If you’re running in an upcoming race soon (like the Nashville’s Country Music Marathon you are already training for), please consider making your miles really go the distance by becoming a fund-racer for Back on My Feet." (Done – I set up a Donation Page through the e-Partners in Giving web site – click here to make a small donation)

• "The 20in24 Sponsored by Nike: This is the Philadelphia area’s only 24-hour running event and has four races in one." (I wrote back and let them know that I would love to "work registration, man a water station, hold the finish-line tape, whatever!")

• "If you would like to make a tax-deductable donation..." (I let her know that e-Partners in Giving will move Back on My Feet to the top of its charitable contributions for the next quarter.)

• "Please let me know if you plan to be in Philly any time soon – we’d love for you to join us for a run." 

(My response: "I'll see you guys in early March.")

I wanted to build on the momentum of my first e-mail and reinforce how serious and dedicated I am to making Fort Worth a Back on My Feet city. 

I think they finally caught on.

After responding to the Manager of Special Events and Communication, I received an e-mail from the organization's founder and president, Anne Mahlum.

AWESOME! AWESOME! AWESOME!

Here is an excerpt from her correspondence:

"Drew, Maureen forwarded me your email last night and I just wanted to say thank you for everything you’re doing – fund-racing for us, coming to volunteer at the 20in24 (you’re going to have a blast), running with us (I should warn you – you’re going to be hooked!), and for moving us up on the list for a donation with your company."

She closed with: "I look forward to meeting you when you come to Philly."

I am so happy that Fort Worth is simply part of the conversation now. I can't and won't ask for anything more at this point.

I know that getting Back on My Feet to launch a chapter here – sooner than later – remains a long-shot, but at least the seed has been planted.

Anne Mahlum and her staff now know they have a city with a vision to end homelessness and a soldier who will help lead the fight. Without being annoying and/or over-bearing, I will continue to make my case for bringing this incredible organization to Fort Worth.

One last thing ... it makes me smile that there are other people across the country that believe in Back on My Feet as much as me and want to help attack homelessness through this program. My friend Katie wants to start a chapter in Minnesota and a gentleman from Florida said the RW article had the same impact on him.

My real goal is that Back on My Feet finds its way into every homeless community across the country.

Anne Mahlum has definitely opened a wonderful can of worms.

This really is the last thing ... Anne encouraged me to share images from her web site. 

Group picture from morning training run (Nov. 2008)

Michael Solomon, 

Back on My Feet member since its creation, 

completes his first marathon

Michael Solomon (center) after marathon 

(look at that pride and confidence)

Group shot after 2007 Philadelphia marathon

No caption need 

(I LOVE IT!)

REMINDER: 

You can support Back on My Feet 

through my participation 

in the Country Music Marathon in April. 

(Donation Page here)

VISION INSPIRES CALL TO ACTION

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is post No. 5 in a week-long blogging initiative.

I wanted to share an inspirational article from my recent edition of Runner's World. It is about an amazing vision of one Philadelphia woman who decided to make a difference in her city's homeless community.

All through the power of running.

THE STORY: On an early morning run past a Philladelphia homeless shelter – one she had run past many times – a simple idea stopped Anne Mahlum in her tracks. She decided to form a running club for the city's homeless.

Back on My Feet was born.

Mahlum's life was changed forever – and there was about to be a significant ripple effect through the streets of Philadelphia.

On her non-profit's web site, Mahlum wrote: "Running is such a beautiful metaphor for life. Life is about choosing different roads and our program teaches the importance of choosing roads filled with opportunity, hope and happiness.”

Here is a news clip out of Baltimore, the second city to launch a BOMF chapter:

THE CALL TO ACTION: After reading the Runner's World article, watching the videos, and spending most of my work day looking at the organization's web site, I felt inspired to do something.

Here is an e-mail that I sent Anne Mahlum:

Anne,

Greetings from Fort Worth, Texas.

My prayer is that this e-mail is not lost in the chaos – because there isn’t a doubt in my mind that you are being bombarded with messages after the recent article in Runner’s World. Especially, if other people were impacted like me. (Your organization and its dedication to helping the homeless has consumed me for two straight days.)

I am a regular volunteer at Fort Worth’s largest homeless shelter (every Tuesday night) and an avid runner. To say that the RW article spoke directly to me, is a HUGE understatement.

Instead of writing a novel of an e-mail, I’m going to fire off a few bullet points (hopefully serving as a catalyst for future dialogue.)

• I want to bring your incredible organization to Fort Worth and help the approximately 4,000 homeless in our city.

• I’m aware of your organization’s mission of “growing smartly” to new cities across the country – I applaud and admire your dedication to that vision of sustained excellence.

• But I’m also aware Back on My Feet is considering expansion to more cities by the end of 2009. (At least one following the March launch in Baltimore.)

• Question: What can be done to get Fort Worth on your radar?

• Question: Are there any newsletters, articles, press releases etc. that lay out the timeline and the decision-making process surrounding expansion into Baltimore? (I’m very intrigued how the conversation started and how the ball got rolling.)

• Question: Is there a difference between “starting a team” and forming a chapter?

Just a little more about me:
• In May 2008, I quit my job as Director of Communications at Texas Christian University to start a new business that puts an emphasis on giving back. We facilitate online donations for significant life events (birthdays, graduations, weddings, memorials, etc.) My web site, which launched in December 2008: www.epartnersingiving.com

• At the same time, I decided that I needed to “walk the walk” in regards to giving back. That’s when I began my volunteer efforts at Presbyterian Night Shelter. (I’m also heavily involved with Big Brother Big Sisters, and The WARM Place – a local non-profit that counsels and mentors children who lost a loved one.)

• I have run in two marathons (Fort Worth’s Cowtown Marathon both times) and I’m currently training for Nashville’s Country Music Marathon in April.

I have copied several people on this e-mail to reinforce my seriousness and dedication to make this mission of bringing BOMF to Fort Worth a reality. (Some of these people are Presbyterian Night Shelter administrators and board members, city leaders – including Mayor Mike Moncrief, community supporters, and friends in the Fort Worth running community.)

I appreciate your time and I hope this e-mail is the start of long and beneficial conversation.

Take care and never stop giving back,

Drew Myers
President / CEO

e-Partners in Giving

I decided to share this letter with you for the same reason I copied Fort Worth's mayor and some significant community supporters.

I AM DEDICATED AND DETERMINED

TO BRING THIS INCREDIBLE PROGRAM TO FORT WORTH!