Meet Our Award Winners: Gene Petrucci
Keys to success (in fundraising): Relationships and one-on-one conversations cannot be overemphasized. People give to the charities and causes they believe it, because someone took the time to engage them and share the passion for the need that they themselves were introduced to.
Fundraising accomplishment of which you are most proud: We needed a title sponsor for our gala this past New Year’s Eve, and through a connection, I was introduced to the principals of Marshall Financial Group. I then prepared a presentation and set up a lunch with them that my boss and I attended. Afterwards, they agreed to give us $10,000 for the gala, but that was only the beginning. They have also been financially responsible for many of our most funding-intensive wishes and have supplied key people/connections to our board of directors and sub-committees. They fit our mission perfectly, and we have gained much, much more than just a financial sponsor.
How would your co-workers describe you: I would say that they look upon me as a passionate, (sometimes overly dramatic), dedicated, caring individual who works well as part of a team with shared goals and aspirations. They know I will support and defend them if called upon to do so without hesitation and that my heart lies with the cause of America’s seniors because of our mission, but also because of their hard work and loyalty.
Greatest lesson ever learned: Never assume something is absolute because of what you see on the surface. Most situations and people are much more complicated than meets the eye. Give everyone the benefit of the doubt and analyze as much as you can before making a judgment call or decision that may affect someone else.
