Page 31 - Indulge April/May 2016
P. 31
By Jack Romig
“I was numb,” Linda said. “It was so soon. The grieving Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties. april/may 2016 • indulge | 31
process was still going on.” Weeks before, her son Justin, a Creating a successful, legitimately constituted charity,
new Parkland High School graduate, went on a senior trip
to Ocean City, Md. As he crossed a street on the night of though, can be a daunting process.
June 15, 2005 he was struck and killed by an 18-year-old As a first step, the Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit
drunken driver.
Organizations recommends research to ensure that another
The idea suggested by Justin’s friends: a softball nonprofit isn’t already filling the need. If something similar
tournament in his honor. “We could never have done it is already in place, working with that organization may be a
ourselves,” Linda said. “We would never have thought of it.” better answer.
It was the start of the Justin Sheftel Memorial Softball “Folks underestimate the amount of administrative
Tournament, today an annual event supporting scholarships time it takes to run a nonprofit,” said Tish Mogan, PANO’s
and good works. Standards for Excellence director. “It is the same as running
a business. They need management accounting systems,
The first year four teams took part. “We really didn’t raise board of directors, policy implementation and so on.”
much money,” Linda said, “perhaps a thousand dollars.”
The PANO website, www.pano.org, explains the
How things begin process to get such groups off the ground. Eleven tips
address essentials including setting a mission statement,
Nonprofits and charities often start like this, with an organizational structure, choosing a board and filing
impulse to create something good in the face of tragedy. for incorporation.
If their numbers are evidence, the need for their work is When a charity takes off
strong. Pennsylvania is home to nearly 67,000 nonprofits of
all kinds, with 7,468 in the Northeast region that includes Starting and maintaining a nonprofit or charity is
likely to test anyone’s commitment to the cause. But if it
works, it may deliver great satisfaction and be effective at
meeting needs in the community.
In the second year of the Justin Sheftel tournament,
the number of teams doubled — and participation,
including sponsorships, kept on accelerating.
This year, 22 teams will play in men’s and women’s
competitions. Two hundred and fifty players and about 50
volunteers will take to the diamonds June 18 at Lehigh
County Sports Fields, Cedar Creek Parkway West.
Besides ballgames, the tournament features extra
attractions including a guest appearance by Steve Carlton,
the Hall of Fame Phillies pitcher, who will conduct a free
clinic for middle school and high school players. As part
of his promotional agreement with St. Luke’s University
Health Network, the tournament’s presenting sponsor,
Carlton will sign photos shot and printed onsite, available
for a fee.
— continued on page 32 —
“I was numb,” Linda said. “It was so soon. The grieving Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties. april/may 2016 • indulge | 31
process was still going on.” Weeks before, her son Justin, a Creating a successful, legitimately constituted charity,
new Parkland High School graduate, went on a senior trip
to Ocean City, Md. As he crossed a street on the night of though, can be a daunting process.
June 15, 2005 he was struck and killed by an 18-year-old As a first step, the Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit
drunken driver.
Organizations recommends research to ensure that another
The idea suggested by Justin’s friends: a softball nonprofit isn’t already filling the need. If something similar
tournament in his honor. “We could never have done it is already in place, working with that organization may be a
ourselves,” Linda said. “We would never have thought of it.” better answer.
It was the start of the Justin Sheftel Memorial Softball “Folks underestimate the amount of administrative
Tournament, today an annual event supporting scholarships time it takes to run a nonprofit,” said Tish Mogan, PANO’s
and good works. Standards for Excellence director. “It is the same as running
a business. They need management accounting systems,
The first year four teams took part. “We really didn’t raise board of directors, policy implementation and so on.”
much money,” Linda said, “perhaps a thousand dollars.”
The PANO website, www.pano.org, explains the
How things begin process to get such groups off the ground. Eleven tips
address essentials including setting a mission statement,
Nonprofits and charities often start like this, with an organizational structure, choosing a board and filing
impulse to create something good in the face of tragedy. for incorporation.
If their numbers are evidence, the need for their work is When a charity takes off
strong. Pennsylvania is home to nearly 67,000 nonprofits of
all kinds, with 7,468 in the Northeast region that includes Starting and maintaining a nonprofit or charity is
likely to test anyone’s commitment to the cause. But if it
works, it may deliver great satisfaction and be effective at
meeting needs in the community.
In the second year of the Justin Sheftel tournament,
the number of teams doubled — and participation,
including sponsorships, kept on accelerating.
This year, 22 teams will play in men’s and women’s
competitions. Two hundred and fifty players and about 50
volunteers will take to the diamonds June 18 at Lehigh
County Sports Fields, Cedar Creek Parkway West.
Besides ballgames, the tournament features extra
attractions including a guest appearance by Steve Carlton,
the Hall of Fame Phillies pitcher, who will conduct a free
clinic for middle school and high school players. As part
of his promotional agreement with St. Luke’s University
Health Network, the tournament’s presenting sponsor,
Carlton will sign photos shot and printed onsite, available
for a fee.
— continued on page 32 —
