By Hally Jackson, Special to JTNews
After two decades as executive director at the JCC, Gary Pollock is pitching for a new team, The Moyer Foundation.
“There were a number of opportunities, both Jewish communal and corporate, which came my way. After meeting with [Mariner’s pitcher] Jamie and Karen Moyer in the fall of 2001, I decided it was time to try something different,” says Pollock. “Not only is the Foundation new and exciting, but every day there is a rewarding project or campaign that is helping people.”
The Moyer Foundation is a nonprofit organization that offers encouragement, comfort and support to children and families who are enduring a time of profound distress.
“The skills I acquired working for the ‘J’ directly relate to the skill set required to lead The Moyer Foundation,” says Pollock. “When working for the ‘J,’ you need to find comfort in ‘asking,’ have outstanding people skills and the ability to connect with the right people. My experience at the ‘J’ translates well into my position as executive director at The Moyer Foundation.”
“The process we went through hiring Gary was a huge step for The Moyer Foundation,” says Karen Moyer. “We knew it would be a giant step hiring someone of his caliber both on a financial and nonprofit level. He has helped us grow very quickly and assist many great causes. Jamie and I feel luck to have him.”
Karen adds that Pollock is a huge baseball fan. “He now looks at baseball and baseball players in a new light. Baseball players and community members all have the same goals and are on the same wavelength in regard to what is best for The Moyer Foundation. Gary is opening the field to allow many who have felt a loss that chance to succeed.”
Pollock and the Moyers are helping give baseball a new meaning. Both Jamie and Karen are extremely involved in the foundation. Whether Jamie Moyer is on the baseball field or the road, he is collecting in-kind gifts like an MVP Ichiro Suzuki autographed and framed package, along with jerseys and bats and balls from baseball players around the country. These donations raise significant money and awareness that allows the foundation to help additional people.
Working from home base, Pollock and Karen are directly responsible for the 20 different special event projects/programs they produce annually. Presently, Pollock is acquiring sponsors and publicizing the annual Jamie Moyer Invitational Bowling Tournament, the foundation’s largest event. Thirty-five companies sponsor this event along with the Mariners who come and bowl to raise money for LifeCenter Northwest. Pollock contacts organizations and entices key community members to partner with The Moyer Foundation and its many causes. Just in the past six months, Pollock has partnered with Pepsi, QFC, UPS and Advanced H20.
Pollock is strategically positioning The Moyer Foundation to ensure the life of the organization and thus the lives of those in need. He is working on an endowment fund that will enable more funding to non-profits in need.
“Philanthropy knows no religious or ethnic boundaries. “It pleases me to no end the amount of support the Moyer Foundation has had from the Jewish community,” says Pollock. “My long-term relationships with many key members in the Jewish community have facilitated the success of The Moyer Foundation today.”
Pollock is very grateful for the abundance of giving people in the Jewish community. There are many who believe in what the Moyers have started.
Bob Abramowitz and his company, Advanced H2O, developed a partnership with the Moyer Foundation. Proceeds and promotional material from each bottle of Cascade Clear™ directly assists the growth and recognition of The Moyer Foundation.
Ken Alterman, in his capacity as general manager of Pepsi Bottling Co., has been instrumental in forging the existing corporate partnership The Moyer Foundation has with Pepsi and QFC.
Skip Kotkins of Skyway Luggage is a continual in-kind contributor of his duffels to the Jamie Moyer Invitational Bowling Tournament and a supporter of the Winter Wine Auction. Kenny Alhadeff, a supporter of the JCC and Temple De Hirsch Sinai, is committed to tournament sponsorship and being the master of ceremony for the Fund-an-Item portion of the Bowling Tournament auction. Likewise, Bob Masin of Masin’s Furniture is involved at the JCC and Temple De Hirsch Sinai. Masin has helped the foundation by making generous contributions for the auction as well as bridging some corporate relationships between The Moyer Foundation and other companies in the area.
Pollock further explained that the hallmark of the foundation is its low overhead costs. This helps assure donors that the money is going directly back to the community. For example, two members of Seattle’s community purchased the lease for the unique space where The Moyer Foundation is housed. Emerald City Graphics prints all the foundation’s communication pieces, including flyers, invitations and letterhead, at no cost. In addition, UPS contributes and develops databases and computers and offers technical expertise.
The Moyer Foundation has led a multitude of fund-raising projects raising millions of dollars to benefit the Seattle Mariners Care Foundation, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, the Hutch School, the Marsha Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer Research, LifeCenter Northwest Donor Network, Northwest Harvest and the Susan G. Komen Foundation.