Special Section sponsored by TMPAA

TMPAA Charities Continues its Support

The Target Markets Program Administrators Association created TMPAA Charities to serve as a vehicle to provide members an opportunity to share their financial success with others in the business community who may need assistance. TMPAA Charities supports entrepreneurs in selected communities in need of economic stimulation, revitalization and investment.

Last year, TMPAA Charities provided more than $25,000 in support to New Orleans-based, The Idea Village (www.ideavillage.org). According to Tim Williamson, The Idea Village president and co-founder, “Small businesses were the economic backbone of New Orleans, accounting for 90% of businesses in the metropolitan area. After Katrina, one hundred percent of all businesses were legally closed for a minimum of eight weeks. Some 18,000 businesses in New Orleans Parish were shut down, dislocated or disrupted and approximately 250,000 jobs were interrupted.”

There has been little federal, state or city relief distributed to small businesses, he adds, noting, “These small businesses faced seemingly insurmountable challenges.” According to Williamson, the first people back to New Orleans were small business entrepreneurs, individuals he calls, “courageous souls with few assets beyond a fierce determination to rebuild.”

Inspired by these individuals, The Idea Village provided triage cash grants and strategic guidance to entrepreneurs who, Williamson says, “displayed guts, staying power and an intense desire to restore the city.”

He notes, “We are grateful to have been given the opportunity to continue this program, thanks to generous donations from entities such as TMPAA Charities that support these fellow business owners.”

TMPAA Charities is prepared to make an even greater impact in 2008. This year, the group has chosen to support Kiva, (www.kiva.org), a unique organization that provides microloans to entrepreneurs in the developing world. TMPAA Charities, with the assistance of its members, will support a number of businesses to help some of the world’s poor make strides towards economic independence. Any return on these microloans can be reinvested in other businesses.

“The most fascinating aspect of this organization is that any contributions the association makes create a renewable source of funds that can, in turn, help a larger group of businesses,” states Glenn Clark, TMPAA past president. “Our goal with Kiva is to generate a portfolio of business investments that will continue to grow each year, enabling us to reinvest our funds.”

Marvin McDougal, TMPAA Charities board member and president of Automotive Risk Management & Insurance Services, adds, “The charities board is very pleased to continue its support of the The Idea Village, while providing business investment opportunities in developing countries through Kiva. It is important that our contributions support causes that can demonstrate some tangible evidence of our investment.

“Our association was able to see the business incubator site our funds are helping to build in New Orleans through The Idea Village,” he notes, “and will also be able to witness the successes of the businesses we choose to invest in through Kiva.” The TMPAA Charities board will select specific business development targets from Kiva’s project list.

Association Board Member Karen Trudel supports the new efforts of the association’s charitable arm. “Kiva enables us to track each investment and to follow the progress of the businesses that receive our loans. We’re even able to invest in group projects, where each donor guarantees all of the loans to the group. It is an excellent model for our association of business owners to support.”

TMPAA Charities’ major fundraising event is the TMPAA Charities Networking Golf Tournament, which takes place just prior to the association’s eighth annual summit in Tempe, Arizona. Other smaller events and direct appeals for support are also planned.

Individuals interested in learning more about TMPAA Charities or providing support can contact TMPAA Executive Director Ray Scotto at ray.scotto@targetmkts.com or (877) 347-5700. *