At the recent International Convention in Orlando, Florida, Leonard Solfa, the Chief Operating Officer of Moose International, launched a program designed to help sustain Mooseheart through a modest donation from Moose membership. The program is called “Gimme’ 5”, and it’s purpose is to raise enough funding over the next five years which will allow the returns on the investments of those funds to subsidize the operations of Moose International and its main missions: Mooseheart and Moosehaven. By donating 5 cents twice a day, which is the equivalent of 70 cents per week, $2.80 per month, $36.50 per year for five years or a one-time payment of $182.50. Why is this program so critical to the future of Mooseheart and Moosehaven?Every year the combined budgets of Mooseheart and Moosehaven equal $32 million. Every year the fraternity’s two most important endeavors open with a $32 million dollar deficit. To put that in context we can all relate to. A city with a population of about 15,500 people operates with a budget of about $20 million. Cities operate with citizens contributing towards the cost of operating the city. Mooseheart and Moosehaven do not have that luxury, yet they face all of the same challenges such as healthcare, road and building maintenance, and employee salaries.Through your contributions to the Gimme” 5 program, the membership of the Moose will have taken a giant step towards ensuring the future of Mooseheart, for the children who attend now and those who will attend in the future. The donations will provide additional support for our elder care mission at Moosehaven and allow the Moose Fraternity to return its focus to its Lodges, Chapters, Moose Legions, Associations and communities. Additionally, it is planned that, with the successful completion of this five (5) year program, while the future may result in perhaps one more major campaign for financial viability, there will be fewer requests for donations from the membership, and a return to the basic fraternal aspects of our foundations – the foundations upon which this great fraternity was established over one hundred (100) years ago.Donations from the “Gimme’ 5” program are segregated and will not be used for any other purpose other than what is being described to you here today. The goal is to ensure the financial stability and independence of Moose International and therefore Mooseheart and Moosehaven for future generations. The request is small but the results can be tremendous. The generosity of the members hasn’t gone unnoticed or unappreciated. Over the next several years, through our “Gimme’5” campaign, we have an opportunity to establish a legacy we can all be proud of.Forms are available from your Lodge administrator and include many methods of payment, They are also available online at www.mooseintl.org You may donate at any time. Donors can send in a check to Moose Charities at the address on the form, credit card information can be given over the phone to Moose Charities staff, the direct debit authorization form can be filled out and sent in to Moose Charities, or members can visit our website, www.moosecharities.org and utilize the secure online donation site. Just be sure to select “Gimme’ 5” when donating. Most importantly, whenever you donate to Moose Charities please be sure to let them know how you want that donation used. Donations to the “Gimme’ 5” campaign do count towards overall annual giving for individuals who contribute to the program, and are tax deductible. All checks should be made payable to Moose Charities and earmarked for “Gimme 5.” 
At the international convention you can visit the Moose Charities booth and donate using cash, check, or charge.You can mail Moose Charities cash or a check at any time. Please send donations to: Moose Charities, 155 S International Dr., Mooseheart, IL 60539.Call Moose Charities at 630-966-2200 and donate by providing credit card information over the phone.Fill out the form to the right to sign up for direct debit. You can mail the form to Moose Charities at Moose Charities, 155 S International Dr., Mooseheart, IL 60539.Donations made to the Gimme 5 project are segregated from all other donations to ensure that they are not used for any other purpose.When donating to the Gimme 5 project please specify in your donation that the funds are to be used for Gimme 5.
