Foundation for good

By Timothy Daniel Clairmont, CFP, MSFS
MDRT Phonathon Committee

It’s my privilege to once again join about 30 of my MDRT peers from around the world as we donate our time to an extremely worthy cause: the MDRT Foundation’s Spring Phonathon.

Before the MDRT Foundation Phonathon, MDRT members fed more than 100 adults and children lunch and dinner at the Ronald McDonald House, which gives families with children at the Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, Indiana, a place to stay. MDRT members from left: Sally Hoffman, Brent Kimball, Ron Staebell, David Blake, Mike (Ronald McDonald House representative), Tim Clairmont, Mark Begley and Brad Myers.

Calling fellow members across the United States is one of the hardest, but most rewarding, things I do all year. Imagine going back to the basics of cold calling. This certainly isn’t the easiest thing to do in the world, and we don’t get paid for it. So why do it? Because the MDRT Foundation makes a tremendous difference. And making a difference is what we’re all about.

How we make a difference

Every day we make a difference in the lives of our clients, their families and their communities. We change the world for the better. And the money and time we donate to the Foundation has a lasting impact.

Think about all of the caring advisors who ask us to help a worthy cause in their local communities over the years — everything from large worldwide organizations such as charity: water, Soles4Souls, Mercy Ships and the Make-a-Wish Foundation to smaller nonprofits you might have to Google to learn more about. All of these amazing organizations receive critical assistance through MDRT members’ generosity.

Apply for a grant

If you didn’t know this, only MDRT members can request grants for charities through the MDRT Foundation. That’s right. We can take the time to make our case for a charitable cause near us and garner the grant money to help our local nonprofits.

With that in mind, apply for a grant! And whether you apply for a grant or not, please answer the call this week from MDRT members who are donating their time to call you. The money you donate goes a long way to making our world a better place. A few more dollars will go even further. You also don’t need to wait for the phone to ring to give to the MDRT Foundation. You can donate online anytime.

Best wishes for a prosperous 2017! And please join me in sharing that prosperity to make this world better than it was yesterday.

Make a difference through the MDRT Foundation

Timothy Clairmont is a seven-year MDRT member from Lake Oswego, Oregon