ALEXANDRIA, Va.
-- ASTA announced the successful completion of its first
matching-grant program, used as a device to stimulate member
donations to the ASTA political action committee (ASTAPac).
Members of ASTAs
Corporate Advisory Council, comprising the heads of the largest
agency consortia, franchise organizations and independent
retailers, offered to contribute up to $25,000 to members preferred
charities (selected at the chapter level).
The contributions to the
charities that were matched by the CAC were based on monies raised
by 14 qualifying chapters and were distributed on a first-come,
first-serve basis.
While ASTAPac
benefited with new money, beneficiaries of the matching-fund gifts
ranged from the American Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders to
local arts, family services, shelters and others.
Bruce Charendoff,
senior vice president of government affairs for Sabre Holdings and
initiator of the program, said the project was a win/win for ASTA
and the community.
The program
generated unprecedented giving to ASTAPac, which is now among the
strongest, best-funded political action committees in the industry,
he said. It also gave ASTA chapters a creative way to support
worthy charitable endeavors in their communities at a time when
support is desperately needed.
To contact
the reporter who wrote this article, send e-mail to Nadine Godwin
at [email protected].