Kelly Cranford’s Post

10X In 2022, I transitioned out of my teaching role and transitioned City League into a nonprofit. It was a HUGE leap of passion and I was only able to do it with the support of my partner, Andrew’s, encouragement. I took a 75% pay cut (from a teacher’s salary) to give City League a chance. The first two years are all about laying the foundation, acquiring sustainable funding, building partnerships and spreading awareness. One of the pieces of my vision includes connecting the athletic, fitness and movement related companies, groups and organizations with City League through a Run-A-Thon —Those of us who have been transformed through engagement in sports and want to see that the future generations of St. Louis have the same opportunities. The Run-A-Thon. I had a vision in my head and was determined to bring it to life. Last year, we had 11 runners participate (my friends and running community) and the board chair (Corey Quinn, Ed.D.) brought his family to volunteer to tally laps. It was a grassroots, year one effort. I knew, I just KNEW this event would grow. Last Saturday, City League hosted the 2nd Annual Run-A-Thon event. We had 126 participants and 30 volunteers. Two times more volunteers this year than participants last. The growth of the event was more than 10X. “until you become completely obsessed with your mission, no one will take you seriously. Until the world understands that you're not going away—that you are 100 percent committed and have complete and utter conviction and will persist in pursuing your project—you will not get the attention you need and the support you want.” ― Grant Cardone, The 10X Rule: The Only Difference Between Success and Failure It’s no secret, I am completely obsessed with this mission. Kids. School Sports. Growth and St. Louis City. Join me if you connect with the mission, too. Let's 10X again.

Day 2: session 8 on civic leadership and management. #TheALILF2023, #blackgirlyourdreamsarevalid #BlackGirlYourDreamsAreValid

Did you know concrete is one of the most used materials in the world, second only to water? Nicole Voss, co-chair of Carbon Leadership Forum Boston | New England, helped lead a yearlong engagement process with the Boston Society for Architecture, funded by the JAMPART CHARITABLE TRUST, that resulted in solutions for lowering the carbon intensity of concrete with the potential to make a measurable difference worldwide. We are delighted to share the findings of the report - read here to see how you can win the game of low carbon concrete! https://lnkd.in/enfi7XDY

#GreenBuildingShowcase is our most visible and impactful event of the year. It's also our biggest fundraiser. BE+ relies on the support of leaders like you who understand that we cannot transform the building industry by acting alone. Our biggest successes have come from leveraging the group genius and collaborative potential of this small but mighty community. Of course, the benefits of sponsorship are tangible as well, so it's a win-win to demonstrate your leadership in the green building sector while helping BE+ meet its mission of accelerating the regenerative design, construction, and operation of the built environment. If you're not convinced, check out these 5 great reasons to sponsor, and then let everyone know why you're deciding to sponsor (or submit award entries) with the hashtags #WhyGBS #GreenBuildingShowcase #GBS23. 📣 Call for Sponsors: https://lnkd.in/enk_xvaP 🏆 Call for Entries (due Oct 6): https://lnkd.in/e2Wd7wYk 🎟 Tickets (early bird ends Sep 30th): https://lnkd.in/gx_zH5mC #GreenBuildingShowcase2023

Power in the platform

Discover how introverts drive success in fundraising with Brian Saber of Asking Matters, during our "Fundraising for Introverts" virtual event on February 9. Learn how critical their role is for association success. Register now: https://bit.ly/3RGqTca #AssociationManagement #Leadership

🌟 Dear Esteemed Alliance High School Old Boys, 🌟 As guardians of the legacy we hold dear, the Alliance High School Old Boys Club extends an exclusive invitation to a monumental event that transcends time—a Capital Campaign for the Centenary Multipurpose Complex: Trinity Chapel, Library, and Amphitheatre. This landmark project, poised to become the epitome of Alliance in the 21st century, stands proudly above ground, since July 2023, a testament to our commitment to excellence. Join Us on March 3rd: Founders' Day Celebration and Capital Campaign Event! 🏛️ Why It Matters: As we celebrate 98 impactful years of our beloved school, we stand at the threshold of greatness. The Centenary Multipurpose Complex is not just a project; we pledge to ensure that Alliance continues to be Strong to Serve for generations. With ground-breaking achievements already realized, we are calling upon you, the esteemed Old Boys, to be part of the driving force that propels this legacy into the future. 💰 Current Progress: Our commitment is unwavering—we aim to raise Ksh 110 million. As Old Boys, we have already raised Ksh 11.5 million in cash and 22 million in pledges. Now, we need your support to ensure this project's seamless journey to completion. This is well within our reach. 🤝 Collaborate with Class Marshals: To make this dream a reality, we call on the strength of our unity. Collaborate with your Class Marshals to contribute through the class fund-drive initiatives. Your participation is not just a donation; it's an investment in the legacy we share and the school we love the most. 🗓️ Save the Date: March 3rd, 2023 Join us for a day that blends the richness of the Founders' Day celebration with the purposeful pursuit of securing the Alliance's future. Your presence is not just requested; it's pivotal. 🌐 Secure Your Spot and Make History: RSVP now to secure your spot at this historic event. Let's make March 3rd a chapter in the Alliance legacy that future generations will proudly recount. Please reach out to the secretariat for any information. secretariat@ahsobc.org Brick by Brick We Build! 🏗️

I am truly humbled by all your kind words and feedback from this article. As time goes on, I have become more comfortable with sharing my personal story because it drives me to continue helping kids in need. It all comes down to education and opportunities. I established the Think Big Endowment for the FSU College of Business so that others would join in the pursuit of helping first-gen college students like me with opportunities for professional development skills, experiential learning, and workforce readiness. If you’re a fellow NOLE or like the idea of supporting higher education, please consider adding to the endowment. You can contact David Van Lone at dvanlone@business.fsu.edu.   If you want to help younger kids prepare for college, trade school or apprenticeships, we can also use your support for Think Big for Kids. We are providing middle and high school students with career exploration, mentorship, and job readiness & placement opportunities. We have served over 7,000 kids to date, but we need more volunteers, mentors and funding to break the cycle of poverty: Amy Alley www.thinkbigforkids.org. Whether you choose to give your resources or your time, both and in any amount are great. Whatever organization or non-profit you choose to support, do something to help others!  

Check out the Business Matters pages to see which businesses have been making an impact to life saving missions. If you would like to find out how your business can get involved get in touch at Pam.hodgetts@midlandsairambulance.com

“What’s your biggest challenge as the corporate sponsorship staffer at your association?”  I asked that question at dozens of Partnership Professionals Network discussion forums. The most common answer was “my biggest challenge is roadblocks and resistance from others on the association’s staff and from board members”! That’s why I’m looking forward to presenting “How to Build a Team Approach to Increasing Partner Revenue” with Jeremy Figoten, MA, CAE at the Professionals for Association Revenue (PAR) RevUP 2023 conference. At this education session, we’ll explain: --How to establish team-building goals --10 tips to building a team approach --How to maintain team momentum Find out more about Lead, Learn, and Earn at PAR RevUp 2023: www.revupsummit.org #nonduesrevenue #nonprofitfundraising  #sponsorships #corporatepartnerships #associationmanagement #corporatesponsorship #corporatepartners #associations #fundraising