Client Spotlight - Gilda's Club of the Quad Cities

As I've gotten older, I've gravitated to creating more mailings for non-profit organizations. Oh, I still sell a lot of sportswear, air conditioning, pizza and banking services, but I find raising money for charity more rewarding. One key to producing a successful package is to understand and "buy in to" the organization's mission. Every once in a while that mission really strikes home.

I've recently been taking a friend to Iowa City for cancer treatments at the Holden Cancer Center. Surrounded by families living with cancer, I have been reminded of the marvelous work done by Gilda's Club of the Quad Cities.

Gilda's Club was founded in memory of original Saturday Night Live star, Gilda Radner, who died in 1989 of ovarian cancer. Their mission statement reads, "The mission of Gilda's Club Quad Cities is to ensure that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action and sustained by community."

They serve families from all walks of life, races, ages and with all types of cancer and all services are free of charge.

We've tried to make their appeals very personal. In fact, the opening few paragraphs of the acquisition letter come directly from a Gilda's Club member, George Ramos.

"How could I keep my family going while my bride fought for her life?

I asked myself that question one lonely night in July, 2009 after my wife - my soul mate - LaNae, had undergone a radical mastectomy and was beginning aggressive chemotherapy.

Cancer sucks.

A lot."

We go on to tell the story of the  help provided to the Ramos family by Gilda's Club.

In 2011 we added another personal story to the package. A Quad City area TV personality was herself diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She wrote a personal "lift" note that added a "voice" to the appeal. She received hand written notes of encouragement written in the margins of the reply form.

Gilda's Club is doing great work and is trying to expand its service area. Cancer is everywhere - and there aren't enough Gilda's Clubs to go around.

Gilda's Club website