Fueling the Freedom Center

Fueling our Freedom Center Operations

Dear Freedom Center Supporter,

Simply put, we need to generate additional income if we are to maintain the current level of services expected by our guests at our MI Freedom Centers. Many of you already give sacrificially of your time and financial resources to the MI Freedom Center. I am not asking for any additional sacrifice from you. I am simply asking for your voice. Please let people know about the work that we do at the MI Freedom Center.

Let them know how a little over 200 volunteers and 4 staff have served over 637,000 guests across 4 centers via 80 shifts per week and 4,160 shifts per year all committed to 1 Mission - "Serving those who serve us". Let them know that we have fulfilled this mission while providing the equivalent of a $25M hospitality services company for only $250K thanks to the sacrificial efforts of our volunteers and the generous support of in-kind donations. Our guests were so appreciative of our services that we earned "2019 People Love Us On Yelp" Award from online business review service Yelp.

We have worked hard behind the scenes as well to improve operations. In fact, we were recently awarded the 2019 Gold Seal of Transparency by charity-watchdog Guidestar.

When you share the story of our accomplishments, many will ask "how can I help?" Here's five ways they can help.

Option 1: Ask them to support our supporters...and ask them to let our supporters know they are supporting them because of their support of the MI Freedom Center. You can see a rotating list of our supporters at MIFreedomCenter.org.

Option 2: "Text" a Donation. Most people always have their smart phones on their person. Ask them on the spot to simply text the amount of their donation (e.g. $20) to 313-818-1046. The first time they do so, they will be prompted for additional information, but from that point forward all they have to do is text the amount to 313-818-1046. Encourage them to make their donation recurring even if it is only for the price of a hard to pronounce specialty coffee ($10 per month). $10 per month donations add up.

Option 3: Encourage them to purchase MI Freedom Center-branded merchandise at our new online store. The holiday shopping season is just around the corner and our Made in the USA merchandise provide a stylish means of supporting our mission. Visit MIFreedomCenter.org to start shopping! shopping.

Option 4: Ask them if they have influence over any Donor-Advised Funds, Community Foundations, or Corporate Foundations which could make grants to the MI Freedom Center. If so, ask them to request a grant(s) on behalf of the MI Freedom Center. Make sure they know that we are officially a tax-exempt 501c3 organization. I would gladly present an overview of our operations to organizations willing to make a 1-time or recurring grant to support our mission. They can contact me at 313-744-7507 or patrick@mifreedomcenter.org for more information.

Option 5: Ask those who work for a business that provides products on our supply list below for a recurring donation of supplies. We spend approximately $10,000 per month on supplies for our guests. Please remember, though, that we operate at secure facilities. Supply donations are not as simple as dropping them off at one of our centers. Please contact Dave Duey at 313-744-7507 or Dave@mifreedomcenter.org to coordinate the logistics of supply donations.

Of course, they could help with all five options if they are so inclined, but we would be happy to get the ball rolling with one.

I recommend proudly wearing your new MI Freedom Center volunteer shirts even when you are out and about to get the conversation started. We have Tri-Fold brochures at each of our centers that you can use to help connect people to all of these options. Help yourself to a stack of them if you are willing and able to share them in the community. Also, don't forget to promote our MIFreedomCenter.org website and social media sites via email and your own social media as it will connect folks to our mission as well.

So, as you go about your regular weekend activities either online via social media or in the real world, please don't forget to sprinkle in a plug for all of the good work that we do at the MI Freedom Center on behalf of our guests!

Thank you for your support of our mission to serve those who serve us!

Honored to serve,

Patrick Colbeck

MI Freedom Center, CEO