Fort Worth entrepreneur raises the bar in charitable giving
Elliot and Heather Goldman count their blessings every day.
Like most philanthropists, the Fort Worth couple feels blessed with all they have and enjoy creating blessings for others. For years, the Goldmans have foregone traditional gift giving in lieu of donations to various local charities because helping others makes them feel good.
In December 2007, the couple was sorting through their holiday mail, which included volumes of gift catalogs.
“We had every catalog imaginable spread out on the floor, you know all the ones I mean: toys, kitchen gadgets, department stores, electronics stores,” said Goldman, a veteran of the promotional products industry. “I asked, ‘Why is there not a catalog for me?’ Heather said, ‘You ought to make one.’ You should have seen the look on her face as soon as she uttered those words.”
Goldman sat right down at the kitchen table and developed The Greatest Gift Catalog Ever, a revolutionary idea not only for charitable giving but also for the gift catalog business.
He plans to launch 100,000 gift books on Oct. 6, through various distribution partners. Just in time for the holidays, the catalog – Goldman has filed a patent on the project as well as its gift card component – features 30 charitable giving opportunities from 10 nonprofit organizations in Tarrant County. Gifts range in price from $10 up to $5,000. Buyers can make a donation in honor of or in memory of someone, rather than purchasing a Christmas gift. They also can purchase gift cards online; pre-orders for the gift cards, which also are available in bulk, became available Aug. 15. The receiver redeems the gift card by choosing which charity or charities to give to and how much.
In an effort to raise funds and awareness for the charities, 100 percent of the tax-deductible donations will go directly to the designation charities.
“Every dollar is a direct dollar into the organization. Money does not go to administration or overhead but directly to the services the organizations provide,” Goldman said.
The 10 beneficiary charities were chosen by Heather and Elliot Goldman, “simply because these are ones we most often support,” he says.
The list includes Lena Pope Home Inc., Meals on Wheels Inc. of Tarrant County, Union Gospel Mission of Tarrant County, All Church Home for Children, Tarrant Area Food Bank, Mental Health Association of Tarrant County, The WARM Place and Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, the only nonsocial service agency.
Each charity is highlighted by a success story along with a mission statement. Goldman included a “Did You Know?” fact page at the back of the catalog with more information regarding each organization.
“We hope the catalog will serve as a community information piece. We hope it will make more people aware of these great organizations and the wonderful work they’re all doing,” Goldman said. “That’s why each one has an information page to explain what the organization is and where people can go to find help if they need it.”
Amanda Stallings, executive director of Gill ChildrenÂ’s Services Inc., one of the designated charities, is hoping the catalog will especially help her nonprofit.
Celebrating its 30th year in 2009, Gill ChildrenÂ’s Services is a last resort measure that fills in the gaps left by other agencies and programs. Funding is provided for children whose physical, social, psychological, educational and medical needs have not been met by other community resources.
“Because we’re a last resort agency, many people may not know us,” said Stallings. “With Elliot’s project, more people will be aware of who we are and what services we provide. It’s an easy, convenient way to give. It’s a great way to rethink Christmas and the holidays and giving,” she said.
Stallings and Goldman have been friends for many years, she said. “I’m not surprised that he thought of this. He’s just that kind of person. He’s really lived his life to helping others in the community,” she said.
Goldman, 36, calls himself “a recovering politician.” His first job out of The University of Texas was in the office of the staff secretary for former Vice President Dan Quayle. He’s worked with Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and Congresswoman Kay Granger but left politics to start several companies, including a promotional products bag business called Liberty Bags, an Austin-based real estate company and a global promotional products company that specializes in merchandise and technology solutions. Last year he formed GL2 Partners, a diversified marketing, business incubation and management company based in Fort Worth, his hometown.
“It’s really fascinating,” said Anne Mason, director of development and public relations for Catholic Charities, Diocese of Fort Worth Inc., another of the designated organizations. “He’s basically using all his knowledge and experience at being a successful entrepreneur and applying that to helping all these nonprofits.”
Goldman said he believes this latest entrepreneurial project will fill a much-needed void in charitable giving.
“It’s a fourth-quarter gift project that reaches a different type of person,” he said. “It’s about shopping for that perfect gift for you or for you to give to someone or in honor of in memory of someone. It’s personal that way. It’s a significantly different niche and certainly has a different appeal and tact,” Goldman says.
“I want to move new dollars - tens or hundreds of millions of dollars over a period of time - into nonprofit causes. I just can’t do enough for these organizations,” he said.
For information about The Greatest Gift Catalog Ever or to purchase gift cards, visit www.tggce.org or call Goldman at 817-922-8297.
Contact Dillard at bdillard@bizpress.net
