What's Your Philanthropic Footprint?

By Mary B. Leon Vail, MBA

The book exposes Vails passion for philanthropy and details events and circumstances in her life that influenced her commitment. Her vision was to create humanitarian impacts within the community wherever she lived. Whats Your Philanthropic Footprint? explains how she guided her clients to become viable stewards of their community.

Vail has over 30 years experience in guiding individuals, entrepreneurs, small businesses and corporations in developing sustainable stewardship initiatives. She conveys how individuals of any age, of any lifestyle, can become agents of change. She also provides anecdotes as well as inspirational messages from individuals from a variety of sectors. Read their stories on how philanthropy has influenced their lives. Learn about their Philanthropic Footprint!

The book is an excellent resource for anyone looking to indulge themselves, family, clients, company or stakeholders in responsible community activism. From public relations professionals to non-profit leaders, and from corporate executives to media types, this book provides exceptional examples of how to engage others in supporting causes and how to create positive impacts.

Whats Your Philanthropic Footprint? is a guide to assist one in optimizing potential for effective philanthropy, while creating notable Philanthropic Footprints.

Forward by Robin Leach, Philanthropist | TV Personality | Celebrity Blogger | Vegasdeluxe.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeHh0e2qe3U%20

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jun 6, 2014
• ISBN: 9781496914491

Mary B. Leon Vail, MBA

Philanthropist | Publicist |Photographer Mary Vail is a veteran publicist who specializes in image building campaigns and who focuses her energies on “positive” publicity. She has become known as the “Philanthropic Publicist.” Vail directs all aspects of marketing and public relations. During her thirty plus years as a PR professional, she has designed innovative campaigns for a vast array of industries. Her humanitarian efforts have been the focus of her profession as she seeks ways to improve the educational, physical or socio-economic lifestyle of those less fortunate. She gives a voice to causes and finds opportunities to advance community outreach. The award winning publicist provides her services pro-bono to assist nonprofits and special interest groups with publicity, fundraising, manpower, photography and event management, as well as recruiting sponsors and luminaries to assist initiatives. A mandatory company policy is that all her clients must be willing to support nonprofit activities through whatever means they can provide. To achieve that end, she becomes her clients’ philanthropic coach: assessing and optimizing their stewardship potential. Vail has guided many into the realm of activism. For more than four decades, Mary has used her education, skills, talents and resources to assist others in improving their quality of life. Her humanitarian efforts have been recognized locally, nationally and internationally, garnering Vail numerous awards and accolades as well as funding grants that have furthered her efforts. Vail earned an Executive MBA from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and a BS from the University of Hawaii-Manoa. She resides in Las Vegas, Nevada with her family. For information on coaching services and speaking engagements, visit maryvailpublicist.com.

Book preview

What’s Your

Philanthropic Footprint?

A Guide to Establishing a Path of Positive Community Activism

Mary B. Leon Vail, MBA

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AuthorHouse™ LLC

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.authorhouse.com

Phone: [phone]

© 2014 Mary B. Leon Vail, MBA. All rights reserved.

Front and back cover images by Mary Leon Vail, MBA Publicist (MVP). Beach front at Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach, Cabo San Lucas, BCS.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse   05/31/2014

ISBN: 978-1-4969-1452-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4969-1451-4 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4969-1449-1 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014909335

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

CONTENTS

Acknowledgements

Foreword

Preface

My Philanthropic Footprint

Chapter 1 Philanthropic Footprint

Chapter 2 Human Kindness

Chapter 3 Involvement

Chapter 4 Leadership

Chapter 5 Aha Moments

Chapter 6 Needs

Chapter 7 The Multiplier Effect

Chapter 8 Handout Or Hand-Up

Chapter 9 Resources

Chapter 10 Opportunities

Chapter 11 Performance

Chapter 12 In Your Community

Chapter 13 Compassion

Chapter 14 Philanthropic Missteps

My Philanthropic Bucket List

About The Author

Charities, Nonprofits, Foundations And Causes

Awards And Recognitions

Index

Philanthropy Is…

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

To My Parents

who raised seven children with patience and kindness in a loving Christian household.

To My Father, Dr. Fred G. Leon, II

who taught me the force (dynamics) of philanthropy and

whose spirit guides me on a daily basis.

To My Mother, Nora Jean Smith Leon

who taught me compassion and giving.

To My Husband, David Lynn

who indulges my activities and supports my endeavors without hesitation.

To My Children, Sean Kristofer and Ashley Noel

my pride and joy, who embraced community stewardship from an early age.

To My Dearest Friend, Joseph M. Vassallo

whose constant encouragement has fueled me through disheartening periods.

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To Keah-Choon Tan, PhD

who advised the writing of the manuscript.

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To Jack Bulavsky

who assisted in the editing and proofing of the book.

&

To All the Humanitarians

who make our world a better place.

FOREWORD

It’s easy to talk the talk, but it takes strength and belief to walk the walk. Mary Vail does that with the tenacity of the long distance runner as she has been the royal leader of community activism for over 30 years.

Giving is good. Helping others less fortunate is wonderful. Donating time and money to charity is a rewarding gift. All is returned tenfold but the sense of satisfaction in making a difference is limitless.

It’s not how much time or money. It’s not whether the charity is large or small. It’s just about doing something to assist our fellow beings. Once you start it’s like the snowball that gets bigger and bigger as it rolls down the mountain—or like the ripples on a pond when a pebble skims across it.

Philanthropy is contagious!

Mary has demonstrated it time and time again as she followed in the footsteps of her father who so beautifully influenced her life and career. Even here with this beautiful book exploring aspects of philanthropy, she donates 100% of the proceeds to charity.

I’ve worked with Mary on the Salvation Army Food Drive in Las Vegas every year. She’s tireless and her enthusiasm has inspired so many people to join her volunteer army of helpers.

I know from my own work with Keep Memory Alive and Opportunity Village charities that we have a duty and responsibility to care for those who aren’t so fortunate as we are.

Philanthropy is a genuinely good thing. It’s faster and more efficient than anything government can do or tries to do.

Individually we have much to be thankful for. We live in a wonderful land with extraordinary opportunities and achievements. We are not imprisoned for speaking our minds. We are not chained for writing our beliefs.

Read Mary’s book with a joy to your heart and then go preach the gospel that giving is good. Act upon what you learn in these pages and reap the rewards.

Robin Leach

Philanthropist | TV Personality | Blogger

Vegasdeluxe.com

March 2014 Las Vegas, Nevada

PREFACE

What’s Your Philanthropic Footprint? is a retrospect of my personal and professional life as an active philanthropist. I have devoted a significant portion of my life to philanthropy, as well as encouraging others to be more conscientious and caring about the fellow inhabitants who share our globe. As a Philanthropic Coach, I have guided family, friends, and business associates to analyze their skills and uncover their passions to become agents of change.

This book is not an endorsement of any specific charity or cause but rather a resource of inspiration and opportunities for one to ponder.

There are many dimensions to philanthropy and I would be hard-pressed to identify all in a single manuscript. Thus, this book is not meant to be a complete overview, nor is it an exact How To or Step-by-Step manual, but rather a springboard to set you on your path.

Many of the ideals, concepts and programs discussed in the book can be easily adapted by individuals, families, entrepreneurs, small businesses or corporations. For non-profits and foundations, What’s your Philanthropic Footprint? may aid your organization in reaching a broader, more diverse group of supporters, uncover a solution for a hard-pressed dilemma, or discover a way to ignite interest in your cause.

Feel free to use this book as a working document to further the development of your Philanthropic Footprint. I encourage you to grab a pen, a highlighter, and stack of sticky notes to write in the margins and mark passages that resonate with you or your organization for future reference. As you peruse the pages, I ask that you show respect by not stealing other’s creativity, copywrite or trademarks but rather utilize it to spark something special of your own.

I apologize in advance for any errors in content. The information and stories portrayed within the book are from my reflections of past events. A concerted effort was made to ensure accuracy. Great pains were taken to validate events, dates and occurrences via a review and cross reference through a vast collection of images, press clippings, video footage and media releases from an in-depth personal archive.

In some instances, the names of individuals and organizations were withheld to honor their privacy.

I am not asking you to become an extreme philanthropist or to agree with all my comments or philosophies; but I do hope you will be inspired to find your passion and take a step in creating your Philanthropic Footprint.

What’s Your Philanthropic Footprint? To share your story and positive thoughts, go to www.facebook.com/PhilanthropicFootprint.

MY PHILANTHROPIC FOOTPRINT

My earliest recollections of community service was as a pre-teen (in the 1960’s) working alongside my father, Dr. Fred G. Leon II, as part of his many fundraising programs in our small town of Kingsville, Texas.

He was very involved in Scouting, Lions Club, Knights of Columbus, the Chiropractic Association, our parish St. Gertrude’s Catholic Church and the Diocese, as well as other community and religious activities. Over the years, my father received numerous notable accolades for his community activism.

I recall typing press releases to local media on an old-style manual typewriter without auto correct and no correction tape, recruiting donations from area businesses, setting up and working carnival booths, selling raffle tickets, baking goodies for a cake walk, being on clean-up patrol, as well as many other activities. It really didn’t matter the task; I always thought it was fun that I was part of something really important.

He taught me about taking pride in doing goodwill for others. His goodwill was a part of his entire being and extended into his own business. A doctor of chiropractic in a small rural town in South Texas, he treated his fellow townspeople with respect. He made house calls, often driving hours away because the individual was too ill to travel. He believed in his chosen profession and wanted every person to have the opportunity to live a healthy life.

His compassion for others was expansive; it was what he was compelled to do: to assist in the healing process not just with his trained hands through chiropractic manipulation, but in relieving the pain of other’s misfortunes through stewardship.

For those who could not afford treatments he would discount the fees, allow them to trade with services or goods, and even provide pro bono treatments to those who couldn’t afford it or did not have insurance.

Little did I realize that those acts of kindness throughout the community and within his business would come to