I am the director of the Foundation for Teen Health in Houston, TX which raises awareness and funds for a network of 7 clinics. These clinics provide free or low cost health care and education to indigent young men and women ages 13 – 25. We are affiliated with a major medical school but do not rely on them for funding. We receive federal and state grants as well as money from private foundations and individuals. The Foundation is the community outreach arm of the clinics doing things like finding businesses to donate furniture and equipment for the clinics or writing a grant proposal to secure funding for a nurse’s salary. We hold an annual luncheon to raise funds and awareness of the work of the clinics and we recognize someone committed to the health of young people at this luncheon. I would like to brand the Foundation for Teen Health so when the public hears the phrase they know it is about giving free health care to those who need it most. FYI – it is almost impossible for a teenager to qualify for medicaid, particularly young men so they often go years without going to a doctor. Presently our logo is a globe circled by abstract figures touching hands. The message I used in our year end solicitation letter was all about giving a hand up not just a hand out because we not only provide health care(fullservice from physicals and immunizations to testing and care for STD and pregnancy) but we provide education to help these young people make healthy positive choices about their lifestyle. I like the idea that we are empowering our patients to make good decisions on their health and lifestyle choices. I just can not come up with a good tagline that we could use to identify our goals and incorporate it into our luncheon and community award. The Foundation for Teen Health is 501(c)(3) as are the clinics and though we work hand in hand we are two separate entities.
We are trying to attract donors – we have the teens covered. We have health fairs, small sporting events, group sessions that spreads the word to potential patients. We want to build awareness and educate the giving community to the huge need we have in Houston. We have one of the best medical centers in the world yet we have a huge population that have no health insurance and really no place to turn for health care. For example, we have a clinic in 2 high schools where (at both schools) 95% of the kids do not have insurance and did not seek care until we opened on campus.
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Jay’s Answer: The key questions in your tagline that you need to answer are: “Why should I (as a donor) care? These kids aren’t mine, they made some bad choices, and how do I know that my donation will fund the problem and not the symptom. After all, I don’t want to fund Band-Aids!”
Your one page summary addresses these points indirectly: better health has some correlation to crime, teen pregnancy, and drop-outs. However, you’re asking for a altruistic leap of faith that what you do works.
Here are a number of choices. Perhaps one of these will inspire you:
- Their Future Requires a Strong Foundation (repeats the word “Foundation”)
- Make Them Healthier, Wealthier, and Wiser
- Be Their Teen Angels
- Your Future Generation Is Calling.
- Their Future Isn’t Yet Written In Stone
- Help Them Have Better Choices
- Everyone Deserves A Second Chance
- They’ll Do Better When They Know Better