A BLOODY ASK: I had just finished writing a huge grant after firmly planting myself in my room for two straight days but was still stressing over the other elements that needed to come together to beat our deadline. My poor left eye was already in pain from computer fatigue but my mind and heart rate were still racing. I knew it was too much stress to go through but I could not get myself to calm down because the week was only going to get even busier. I was particularly focused on this long-postponed appointment to see a bank officer in Downtown Los Angeles to ask for a donation for our projects. Dressed and almost done with dolling up, my nose burst in a nosebleed which I quickly caught, or so I thought. But it got worse and wouldn’t stop. My head was thinking dismay over the delay and worry for my bank appointment. But we called 911 and five people were almost immediately at the door. They checked me out—apparently, my stress was manifesting in elevated blood pressure but they gave me a release to go ahead to work after explaining to them that I needed to not miss my appointment. I made it to the bank without incident and after the initial niceties, the bank officer sat down for us to talk. Then, I suddenly felt something in my nose and caught the crimson drops. I wailed, “But the paramedics gave me the go ahead for work today!” The nice man from the bank jumped to give me his tissue box. I pressed wickedly hard on my right nostril and apologized. “I don’t mean to be so melodramatic,” I said and started laughing. He suggested postponing our meeting so I could go to the clinic but for some odd reason, I felt I could finish the meeting. So, for a good ten to fifteen minutes, I continued with my presentation while still pressing on my nose. It must have looked ridiculous but I was there for my people and was willing to look like the fool on the hill, in another minute, my nose cooperated and we had a very substantive exchange. He understood our work and because he as a war veteran, he was very supportive of our projects. He wanted to come to the center, meet with out Board of Directors and truly get involved with our community. And then, I went for the “kill,” or to put it mildly, “the meat and potatoes” and asked how much his bank was willing to contribute. Without batting an eyelash, he said, ‘Ask for the moon!’ My ears perked up and I tried hard to contain my excitement. “Ask for what you really need to finance these two projects and I will work it out, Miss Navarro.” “Wow,” I thought it my head, “is this for real?” I thanked him profusely and left the bank with such hope that I almost forgot to run to the clinic. I have been in this business for years but never had it this dramatic an episode for fund development, truly a “bloody ask!” --Lillibeth Navarro, April 6th, 2014
Posted on: Sun, 06 Apr 2014 16:22:40 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015