On Thursday, September 22, PTI 5K 10K on the Runway race
co-chairs May Gayle and Paul Mengert of AMG, Association Management Group, one
of the Carolinas’ largest professional homeowner association (HOA) managers,
presented a check for $100,000 to 2016 PTI Run beneficiaries: Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC,
Greensboro Urban Ministry and Open Door Ministry of High Point. The money will
support the nonprofits’ efforts to end hunger in the Triad through education,
outreach and advocacy. This year’s event more than doubled last year’s
fundraising efforts, from $40,000 in 2015 to $100,000 in 2016. The three
charities received equal shares of the money.
The widespread
hunger crisis in the Greensboro-High Point, N.C. metro area has weighed heavily
on Paul K. Mengert’s mind for a long time. “We live in what we believe is the
most advanced country in the world, in thriving neighborhoods, yet there are
families who live and work within a few blocks or miles of us who don’t have
enough food to feed their children,” said Mengert, president and founder of Association
Management Group (AMG), a community association management company with offices
throughout the Carolinas. “When people realize that basic human needs aren’t
being met, at first they are shocked,” he added. “And then they want to do
something about it.”
When Mengert, with his wife and co-founder May Gayle
Mengert, volunteered to serve as event co-chairs for the seventh annual
Piedmont Triad International Airport 5K/10K Run on the Runway on June 4, 2016, to
benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina and two of its
partner food assistance agencies, Greensboro Urban Ministry and Open Door
Ministries of High Point, he decided to dream big.
With
his 31 years managing hundreds of communities in the Carolinas, he had direct experience
with the depth of compassion of neighborhood volunteers. He knew he could tap
into this spirit to make a difference in the lives of thousands of hungry
individuals living in the Triad area.
Mengert suggested the Airport Authority’s Event Committee
more than double last year’s $40,000 target, stretching this year’s goal to
$100,000, banking on the belief that communities are committed to helping their
neighbors. “This commitment became a
reality when we more than doubled last year’s mark, raising over $100,000 for
the food bank, and also placing the challenge of community hunger on everyone’s
radar.”
The
Serious Problem of Hunger
According to Clyde Fitzgerald, executive director of the
Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina, hunger in the region has
been a problem for a long time. “The advent of the great recession in 2008 had
a very significant effect in this area,” he said.
Textile companies, furniture manufacturers and call
centers, including Cone Denim, American Express and Thomas Built Buses, greatly
downsized or left the area, eliminating vital jobs. “While high-tech jobs in
medical and computer technology are being created in our area, most people who
have lost their jobs through no fault of their own don’t qualify for those new
jobs due to a lack of education and skills,” Fitzgerald said. “This leaves
thousands of families misplaced and hungry. Our goal is to provide food and
hope to these individuals.”
The
numbers are astounding. In 2009, Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina
distributed seven million pounds of food to 135,000 people across the 18
counties the organization serves. The demand has grown to 300,000 hungry people,
and thanks to the generosity of donors, the Harvest Food Bank served 28 million
pounds of food this past year.
“This
translates to more than 23 million meals, but even that huge number is not
enough to meet the need,” Fitzgerald said. “This is why events such as the PTI
Run on the Runway are so important to our community.”
A
Regional Airport Focuses on a Regional Cause
Piedmont Triad Airport (PTI) is located at the hub of the
Piedmont Triad region, situated between the cities of Greensboro, Winston-Salem
and High Point. In addition to its airline operations, the airport has earned a
reputation as a regional leader in aviation manufacturing, maintenance and
repair.
Alongside
its fixed-based operation, Signature Flight Services, PTI is home to Honda
Aircraft Company, which established its world headquarters at the airport in
2006; HAECO Americas, Inc., one of the largest independent commercial jet
maintenance and repair service providers in the world; and Cessna Aircraft
Corporation, which houses its major service center for Cessna owners in the FedEx
mid-Atlantic states.
“The
Run on the Runway community service project began more than seven years ago
after the addition of the newest runway, which was built in support of our
mid-Atlantic hub location,” recalled Airport Authority Chairman Steve Showfety.
“For the first five years, the beneficiary of the event was a national
organization. We are a regional airport with roots deep in the Triad, and two
years ago decided we wanted to make a difference right in here in our region,” Showfety
added. “We chose to support Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North
Carolina and two of its partner agencies: Greensboro Urban Ministry and Open
Door Ministries of High Point.”
Dreaming
Big and Inspiring Involvement
PTI Executive Director Kevin J. Baker vividly remembers
when Mengert challenged the event committee to dream big. “We were very proud
of how we raised $20,000 for the Food Bank two years ago, and then doubled that
figure to $40,000 the next year,” Baker explained. “However, when Paul
challenged the event committee to try to hit the $100,000 mark, I raised my
eyes in amazement, but the team rose to the occasion. I give Paul credit,”
Baker added. “He set a lofty goal and then led the team to achieve it. And he
did it with a mixture of sponsors and donations from the community.”
Mengert said it was sort of like John F. Kennedy vowing
to put a man on the moon. “Kennedy didn’t know the details, but he was able to
inspire a generation of scientists to literally shoot for the moon,” Mengert
said. “That is how I felt about our $100,000 goal. I didn’t quite know the
details of how we would accomplish this fund-raising effort, but I knew we
could inspire our community to work harder to raise more money for this
critical cause.”
Gathering
Sponsors Large and Small
Mengert and the team first approached the presenting
sponsor, VF Corporation, and challenged the company to increase its level of
sponsorship. “It enthusiastically met the challenge, which kick-started the
entire effort,” Baker said.
Mengert and his team also inspired four Platinum sponsors
-- Honda Aircraft Company, Michael Baker Company, ITG Brands and Tuggle Duggins
Law Firm -- to increase their donations, and the companies generously met the
challenge.
“Paul and the committee were able to attract new
sponsors, with many pledging between $1,000 and $2,500,” Baker said. “In all,
more than 60 businesses and organizations helped to sponsor this year’s run.”
Mengert said he was particularly touched by the
participation of many smaller donors who gave between $100 and $1,000, plus two
very generous anonymous donors. In addition, he points to the “incredible
leadership of the airport, which inspired every single airport employee to
contribute to the food bank. From executives to janitors to parking attendants
to security personnel, every single employee contributed to the cause.”
The
Chance to Race on a Runway
Mengert also spoke of the dedication of the nearly 1,300
runners from the community who came out to compete. “Their dedication reflects
the depth of compassion in the Triad,” Mengert said.
In addition to the registration fee, participants in the
5K and 10K were asked to bring two non-perishable food items when they signed
up for the run. As a result, the event collected nearly a ton of food to be
distributed to those in need.
Baker noted that putting on the race itself required
“literally a cast of hundreds” to handle all of the many details. “We are proud
of the team that came together to make this race a reality,” he said.
Showfety
called the race a spectacular event. “We had a lot of aviation-related exhibits
on the runway, including the new Honda business jet, which is manufactured here
in Greensboro and is Honda’s first airplane,” Showfety said.
One
of the main draws of the race is the opportunity to run on an actual runway.
“It makes for a unique experience,” Baker said.
Feeding the Less
Fortunate
Showfety noted that Mengert’s enthusiasm and leadership
proved vital in making the event a success. It also allowed the airport to more
closely align with its service area and the constituents it serves. Fitzgerald noted that for every dollar donated, the Food
Bank and its partner agencies can provide seven
nutritious meals.
“The $100,000 raised translates into 700,000 meals to help
meet a pressing and urgent need for people who require food assistance,” Fitzgerald
said. “This is a significant event for our food bank and our partners. We are
grateful for PTI and for Mr. Mengert, who did an outstanding job of almost tripling
the revenues generated by the race.”
For Mengert, meeting the fundraising goal only confirmed
what he already knew about community engagement and involvement.
“We have the privilege as a company that manages community
associations to work with fine groups of people who desire to lead their
communities and help their neighbors, so I already had a good sense of the
commitment to help others that people from our communities feel and share,”
Mengert said.
“So I can tell you I
am not surprised that when given a vehicle and opportunity to help people,
communities from the Triad were excited to step up,” he added. “And every bit
helps. We need to work together to come up with innovative ways to address and
solve problems such as hunger, which exists right in our backyard.”
PHOTO
CUTLINE: (top photo) AMG founders Paul and May Gayle Mengert, co-chairs of the June 4 PTI
5K 10K on the Runway race to benefit the hungry, recently met with their race
committee: (1st row, left to right): Cheryl Ledford, Greensboro
Urban Ministry; Debbie Clark, Second Harvest Food Bank; Lea Metz, Second
Harvest Food Bank; Clyde Fitzgerald, Second Harvest Food Bank; Steve Showfety,
Chairman, Piedmont Triad Airport Authority; May Gayle Mengert, AMG, Event Co-Chair;
Paul Mengert, AMG, Event Chairman; Jo Sanderlin, WKRR/WKZL;Ron Miller,
Consultant RMA; Stephanie Freeman, Marketing and Customer Relations; Piedmont
Triad Airport Authority, Doreann Smith; Director of Finance and Administration,
Piedmont Triad Airport Authority; (second row, left to right): Steve Key, Open
Door Ministries; Drew Hancock, Board Member Piedmont Triad Airport Authority;
Don Webb, Vice Chair, Piedmont Triad Airport Authority; Scott Bassett, On the
Mark Sports; Leslie Graham, Open Door
Ministries; Jim Himes, WGHP Fox 8; and Kevin Baker, Executive Director, Piedmont Triad Airport
Authority.
Second photo: Paul and May Gayle Mengert
For details or how information about sponsoring next year's race, contact jpaz@amgworld.com
