Chamber exceeds $3.5 million, sets another record for annual Resource Campaign

6.22.2012
Tulsa Metro Chamber staff gathered with volunteers and sponsors Thursday night at The Mayo Hotel to celebrate the end of its annual 10-week Resource Campaign and announce the final total of more than $3.5 million.
 
Thirty corporate teams consisting of 190 volunteers sold sponsorships to the Chamber’s programs, meetings, events and publications to raise $3,531,923, which will support 25 percent of the Chamber’s annual budget.

“The campaign grows significantly year after year, which positively impacts the Chamber’s ability to provide business-building programs and services with a goal of regional economic prosperity,” said Becky J. Frank, 2012 chair of the Tulsa Metro Chamber and chairman and CEO of Schnake Turnbo Frank | PR. “Now in its 18th year, the campaign brings together amazing volunteers and a supportive business community to result in a nationally recognized, highly successful resource campaign.”

The revenue generated underwrites the Chamber’s program of work in the areas of small business and entrepreneurship, education, workforce attraction, advocacy, and member services such as referrals and networking events. It also helps fund the contributions the Chamber makes to its regional economic development program, Tulsa’s Future, and to its regional tourism development program, VisitTulsa.
“Investment in the Chamber’s program of work remains high,” said Mike Thornbrugh, manager of government and public affairs for QuikTrip Corp. “We had an outstanding group of volunteers this year who set a number of records, from the largest week-one total in campaign history to the incredible final total.”

Matt Pivarnik, the Chamber’s executive vice president and COO, said the campaign is considered a top model program by chamber peers and is the second largest campaign of its kind in the nation, further proving its ability to impact the Tulsa region.

“Our staff and our board of directors are overwhelmed by the tremendous response and support from the Tulsa regional business community,” Pivarnik said. “This financial support assists us in fostering the growth and development of our community and the quality of life for our families.”

The original $2.9 million goal was surpassed under the leadership of campaign chair Thornbrugh; co-chair Dave Kollmann, Flintco LLC; and vice chairs Wade Edmundson, Summit Bank; Kirk Hays, Arvest; Bruce Heine, Magellan Midstream Partners; Marilyn Ihloff, Ihloff Salon and Day Spa; and David Stratton, JPMorgan Chase and Company.

The campaign’s overall producer and the first person in campaign history to surpass $150,000 in cash sales was Shirley Bailey with the Bama Companies. Other top fundraisers included David Lamb, Bank of Oklahoma; Lynda Wingo, Miss Helen’s Private School; Tony Heaberlin, Tulsa Tech; Karla Taylor, Arvest; Carrie Modrak, Saint Francis Health System; and John Wiscaver, Oklahoma Farm Bureau.
The chamber’s 3,100-plus members include businesses and organizations from throughout the 10-county metropolitan area and the state of Oklahoma. Tulsa is the only five-star accredited chamber in Oklahoma and serves as a chamber industry-leader with a 90 percent member retention rate and three “nation’s best chamber” titles.

For more information, contact Karen Humphrey, director of the resource campaign and affinity programs, at karenhumphrey@tulsachamber.com or 918.560.0250.


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