Traverse City Record-Eagle

Opinion

EDITORIAL

The issue: Frostbite drive gets a big boost

Our view: Lots of people sharing the wealth

February 1, 2012

Region reaps benefits of residents' generosity

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As they say, the Father Fred Foundation has been there and done that. But this is a special year.

From Friday through Feb. 12, the foundation will be conducting its 18th annual Frostbite Food Drive, when it will set up two semi-trailers at the Garfield Centre in the 800 block of South Garfield Avenue, and operate four other food drop-off sites.

It is a big annual push for Father Fred and helps replenish its food stocks, which are always low by mid-winter.

There's something different about the drive this year, though — anonymous donors will match donations of food, personal care items and money up to $100,000.

That's a big cash infusion for a social services non-profit at any time. A couple years ago the Frostbite exceeded its $75,000 cash donation goal by raising $103,000, which included a dollar-for-dollar match.

Right out of the gate, then, this year's effort is nearly at that goal, and given its past history will certainly match the $100,000 in anonymous cash. The drive will also accept donations of food, personal care items such as diapers, toothpaste, shampoo, laundry soap and more.

Food will also be collected at four other Grand Traverse-area sites: Fox Motors on U.S. 31 South; the Glen's market at Chums Corners; the Tom's market in Acme; and the Oleson's market at Three Mile and Hammond.

There's something happening here that goes beyond donating toothpaste and diapers, though. The $100,000 match for Father Fred was the fourth big influx of cash into a worthy local cause in December and January alone.

Earlier this month the Grand Traverse Bay YMCA reached its $12 million-fund-raising target to build a massive new Y complex complete with pools, tennis courts and workout areas. The final push was energized by a $2 million challenge grant from Robert and Phyllis Foster, a Benzie County couple. Including that grant, the Y raised $6 million in just a few months to reach its goal.

Last fall the Traverse City Film Festival said it had to raise $500,000, half of that to fix the exterior of the State Theatre, the other half to underwrite its free community events and 25-cent movies. On Dec. 29 the festival said it had reached its goal three days early with $40,000 to spare.

At the end of December Casey Cowell, the former chairman and CEO of U.S. Robotics and a Traverse City resident, donated a take-your-breath-away $5 million to Munson Healthcare for a new cancer center that is still being planned.

Including the Y's entire $12 million goal, that means the community has come up with more than $17.5 million for local projects — money that will stay right here and build critical infrastructure for the mind and body.

We're all richer for the magnanimity of those can afford to give.

To donate to Father Fred, go to one of the drop off sites list above or visit www.fatherfred.org to donate cash.

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