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TMPAA Charities Offers Strong Support

Since its 2001 inception, the Target Markets Program Administrators Association (TMPAA) has earned hearty salutes for successfully broadening program administration visibility and for its creation of networking opportunities to enhance insurance agency and carrier partnerships.

But recently, in addition to its highly regarded stature within the insurance industry, the Target Markets Program Administrators Association—through its TMPAA Charities arm—has expanded its mission far beyond the insurance industry itself.

TMPAA Charities proudly reaches out to support organizations and communities where financial help is a vital necessity. The New Orleans region, following the Katrina disaster, is a good example. TMPAA Charities forwarded more than $45,000 to The Idea Village, a coordinating relief organization that provided cash grants and guidance to small business entrepreneurs whose livelihoods suffered severe damage.

It seems quite fitting that Target Markets, itself composed of numerous relatively small insurance business operators, directs its charitable funding toward similarly sized enterprises in critical need of assistance. This year’s primary TMPAA Charities beneficiary is Kiva, a unique organization providing microloans to developing world entrepreneurs. Kiva will present a project list of eligible firms to the Charities board, which then selects worthy recipients. Kiva tracks each investment’s progress and reports back on it. When the small companies return to a solid footing the loans are paid back to Kiva on a prescribed repayment schedule. Several qualified businesses operate with fewer than 100 employees. An enterprise as small as, perhaps, a single bicycle owner/messenger would be eligible for a loan to purchase a replacement bike if needed.

It is important to note that contributions from TMPAA Charities are, officially, loans. Loans to be repaid. They are termed “microloans.” Our contributions are directed to help some of the world’s business poor to make strides toward economic independence. Returns on microloans can be reinvested in other businesses to assist yet another group of loan recipients. TMPAA past president Glenn Clark, in discussing the Kiva organization, said, “Our goal with Kiva is to generate a portfolio of business investments that will continue to grow yearly, enabling us to reinvest our funds.” Kiva has recently added U.S. small business loans to its lending portfolio. TMPAA Charities now has the opportunity to consider these investments. Complete background on Kiva is available at www.kiva.org.

At Target Markets’ mid-year meeting in Baltimore the current TMPAA President, William Kronenberg III, described the mission of the John Lazarich Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded by his family in 1997. One major project the foundation champions is support for a school in an extremely poor and depressed region of South Africa—the Hermanus Waldorf School (http://www.hermanuswaldorf.co.za/whysponsor.php). Most boys and girls there have had virtually no chance of succeeding under present circumstances. Dropout rate is nearly 100 percent. Now, with the foundation’s backing and increased contributions, kindergarten through eighth grade pupils are provided two meals daily. And, through growing support, a new high school someday is a strong possibility.

Target Markets member companies can arrange corporate contributions to TMPAA Charities through Executive Director Ray Scotto by e-mail: ray.scotto@targetmkts.com or by phone: (877) 347-5700. Individual insurance professionals, whether or not associated with TMPAA members, are also encouraged to consider our designated charities. In recent years, association members have reportedly arranged to sponsor children at the Hermanus Waldorf School through one or more TMPAA Charities programs.

In addition to individual contributions, major funding is derived from the TMPAA Charities Networking Golf Tournament staged in conjunction with the association’s annual national Summit meetings in Arizona. And this year corporate sponsorship of golf holes and other tournament-related events will be earmarked for the Charities fund. A special event activity at April’s TMPAA Baltimore convention also generated revenue for TMPAA Charities.