the past 10 years, giving to our foundation has continued to increase despite the tough economy nationwide. If donors see the benefits of their philanthropy, they will continue to support our mission. It’s our job to make sure that happens! AHT: How do you go about reaching donors and/or support from the community? BP: We build relationships both in a personal way, face to face, and through an extensive communications program including some use of social media. I interact often with our corporate partners who support Methodist through targeted gifts, sponsorships of our “signature events” each year and pledges of multiple-year support. An ongoing honest and warm relationship is priceless. AHT: What do you find to be the most effective way to communicate the needs of Methodist Healthcare with the donors and the community? BP: Stories. When we can illustrate through actual life stories how we have been able to better the community or help individuals through their funding, our donors see that they have made a difference in the lives of others. It is a very satisfying feeling all the way around! We use our annual report, our “Foundation Focus” newsletter, email, etc., to make sure friends of the foundation see and hear evidence of the good they do through us. Our very active foundation board members best tell these stories as they hold leadership positions in and travel about the community. AHT: How has fundraising evolved over the past 10 years? Are there any new strategies used today?
BP: It’s so much more competitive! There are more non-profits out there all seeking support for wonderful causes. Fundraising is much more sophisticated now and organizations like the Association of Fundraising Professionals do a great job linking those in our profession and assisting us in what we do. Of course, the advent of the internet and social media components has caused dramatic changes in our field and we are also targeting age and demographic groups more with specific information and opportunities in philanthropic areas in which THEY have interest. The recent economic downturn has simply forced fundraisers to “step it up” and broaden our approach to potential supporters. AHT: The Methodist Healthcare Foundation raises funds for Memphis’ four metro hospitals. What are the foundation’s biggest priorities for 2011? BP: We actually have six metro area hospitals when you include our Extended Care Hospital located within Methodist University Hospital in the Memphis Medical Center and Methodist Healthcare-Fayette Hospital in nearby Somerville. And a new Methodist hospital is scheduled to open in Olive Branch, MS, in 2013! The Foundation raises much-needed funds for system priorities rather than specific hospitals. Our strategic priorities in 2011 are our hospice program and the beautiful new Methodist Hospice Residence in East Memphis, our Center of Excellence in Faith and Health and its many outreach programs and the exciting new Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center of Memphis currently being created on the Methodist University Hospital campus.
AHT: How does the foundation determine how fundraising money is spent? BP: Our system leadership sets the priorities in conjunction with our board leaders and the Foundation Board of Directors gives final approval. AHT: Recent supporters of the foundation have included several big names. It must be great to work with so many inspiring individuals. Who would you consider as your personal favorite and why? BP: I am assuming that you are talking about our annual Methodist Cancer Center Luncheon each fall. We have been truly blessed over 10 great years with this event and each year’s guest speaker has been terrific and fascinating in different ways. To fill the Peabody Hotel’s Grand Ballroom, we do have to find the perfect speaker. From Queen Noor of Jordan to Former First Ladies Barbara Bush and Laura Bush to NBC News icon Tom Brokaw, Memphis’ own Academy Award-winning actress Kathy Bates and cable news’ political couple, Mary Matalin and James Carville, we have had some tremendously entertaining luncheons. But I think my favorite thus far has been when “Mary Poppins” herself, Julie Andrews, graced our stage back in 2006! Her memory-filled video introduction, her English accent, her captivating personality and her sincerity and humor made all of us in attendance feel she truly cared about our cause that day. I don’t think I have ever seen as many smiles on the faces of our guests!
Quick Answers: Influential role model: My parents, now 96 and 87, who raised my brother and me in a loving Christian environment and the late Dr. Adrian Rogers of Bellevue Baptist Church, who I greatly miss but often fondly remember. Favorite Book: I’m a “news junkie” and prefer newspapers and magazines as far as printed media is concerned. I rarely sit long enough to read an entire book, except perhaps when at the beach in Destin! Favorite hidden gem in Memphis: Mud Island’s Harbor Town. I love to drive outof-town visitors there as they are amazed that such a place in so quaint and beautiful a setting exists in Downtown Memphis!
“If I weren’t working here, I’d:” sell Memphis through a position with the Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau. Most treasured possession: Not a thing, but a “who”…my wife, Molly, a realtor, and our adult kids Whitney, 26, who lives and works in Nashville and attends grad school at Belmont University there and Drew, 24, a third-year law student at the University of Memphis School of Law. The four of us still vacation together when we can clear schedules! Best piece of advice someone gave you: At our wedding reception 27 years ago, a very wise man told us, “NEVER go to bed angry.”
Best piece of advice you gave someone: Every choice we make has the possibility of good or bad consequences. You’d rather have the good ones… so choose wisely! If you could change one thing about Memphis: Stem the flow elsewhere of talented young people who choose to live and work in other nearby cities rather than their own hometown. If you could sum up Memphis in three words: “…experience Southern Hospitality”
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