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.