Sowing Awareness

For years now I have enjoyed working on many exciting projects where we raise funds as we raise awareness. Most times this involves long time spans as committees hammer out the details for an event. And each event has always been memorable and made money for the organization.

But last week I received an email from my friend Rebecca Hoffman of Past Perfect - a historic preservation consulting firm in Grand Rapids. She wrote, "We need a clever idea for fundraising - anything come to mind?"

I was very aware of the intent of the email as she has been working to save a portion of Garfield Park (public park) from being sold off to the Salvation Army who wish to build a Kroc Center. The center, a fitness and community space, would be a multimillion dollar gift to the city. Grand Rapids was selected over about 24 other cities for this gift, who are standing in line in case we screw up. But the deadline to secure this gift is fast approaching and the city is deeply divided on this matter.

The biggest problem has been that while it is a nice gift, it is the wrong location for many folks and for many reasons. Over the past few weeks the players have dug in the trenches for a long fight. The sad thing is the Kroc Center is in danger of being lost due to mishandling of this matter by some folks who have gotten off message. The Kroc Center is good for the community, but the location potentially opens up the real possibility of other public land ending up on the selling block. In a town with deep financial shortfalls, our city's vision is in danger of becoming equally short sited in solving issues of the checkbook.

It was all heading for a showdown this Tuesday. City Commissioners were being hounded by both sides in numerous meetings. Letters splash throughout the public editorial seciton of the newspaper. Even a recent article in the Grand Rapids Press had me wondering if maybe the Garfield Park location would be approved.

So Rebecca's email was asking me to help them and fast since the clock was winding down to Tuesday's showdown vote. I knew it was too little time to do anything traditional but I also understood the promotion of their dialogue was key in this urgent matter. Personally, I did not want to attend another wine and cheese party where a small group write checks. Been there, done that. I wanted real dialogue.

After a few minutes I wrote back, "I really cannot think of anything but this needs to happen fast. All I can think of is more along the lines of a fund raiser / publicity stunt, where neighbors set up a table, OUTSIDE, and just like a bake sale, sell off chunks of sod as people walk by."

"It gets the message out there that this piece of public park land is up for sale by the city and slows down the wheels of the commission who may become fearful of a complete revolt come election time. At the same time your cause make some cash - maybe not a lot of cash but I can guarantee every news media outlet will pick this up."

And they did.

Flash forward 24 hours after the Sod Sale to Friday where at a press conference called by the Salvation Army, they finally admitted that the Kroc family would not want the gift of this center to be placed in a location that would divide, not unite, a community. They were taking Garfield Park off the preferred location list.

So they will attempt to secure an extension to their deadline with the Kroc Foundation as they go back to the other three sites on their wish list. None of the other sites are public parkland or have any protest from the citizens of Grand Rapids.

In the end it is a noble gesture on the part of the Salvation Army to back down and not place it in Garfield Park. I would like to think in some small way, I may have helped make a difference in helping protect a public park.

And in a strange last twist, the Kroc's are the family that made billions off a little restaurant named McDonald's. Are the fitness centers they plan to build in many U.S. cities out of guilt or a true concern of health & fitness? A Big Mac is 560 calories with 270 of them assigned to fat. Hold the French Fries, Ronald!

Discuss amongst yourself.

To read up more on this matter, visit the city of Grand Rapids' information page.