Giving S2A

“Yes, the amount is correct: we want to give $25,000,” said the donor on the other end of the phone call. Wow! Of course, I was delighted. ​

That conversation occurred on the very first day of Early Giving for Spring2Action. As President of the Board of the Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic Association, I had placed the call. Around 4pm, a notice came in about a VERY LARGE donation. We had the donor’s contact information in our files, and I almost expected the person on the other end of the line to recant and say they had misplaced a decimal point.

“I support everything WMPA stands for and has done,” said Marilyn Schimpf.  Wow! I was again delighted with such a blanket endorsement.
 
As the conversation continued, this donor mentioned that her husband had been a violist with the National Symphony Orchestra for 40 years. She herself was an accomplished cellist. Particularly in light of the current political onslaught on the arts, they wanted to make a statement. They wanted publicly to thank their friend and retired longtime maestro Ul James for being so committed to musicians and audiences, and to thank WMPA for continuing to be a force in the community. Bringing along young musicians with our youth orchestras, constantly improving artistic standards, educating audiences (and musicians) with programing, and providing the informal summer series are all activities which resonate with that couple.
 
Theirs might be the largest single donation on Day One of any of the Spring2ACTion campaigns.  Wow, again!
 
While I don’t expect similar gifts, any amount is appreciated. DON’T YOU WANT TO EARN ‘POINTS’ from using your credit card?  Seriously, don’t you wish to provide a legacy towards supporting The Arts?   
 
At an S2A event, a Board member mentioned that “You have to LEARN to give.”  I was fortunate my parents and their parents and so on instilled the need to help others and to support worthy causes. Your giving helps teach others to give.  Consider asking others to help, too, with a $10, $20, $100 or other gift today!  Unlike voting, you may GIVE EARLY AND OFTEN! Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic Association (WMPA) | Spring2ACTion  
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The actual S2A “day” is April 22nd.  Join the Schimpfs in supporting WMPA.

By the way, it’s not too soon to make your May 10th Mother’s Day plans with the whole family to attend the 3 PM concert at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Hall: It promises to be a wonderful concert, in a marvelous performance venue.