Spotlight Q & A with Suzanne Grishman, Executive Director, Mercury One
(Featured photo from the Kick-Off Party at Savor in May 2017 for the 2017 M1Ball American Cowboy: Gina Betts, Honorary Chair M1Ball American Cowboy and Suzanne Bock Grishman, Executive Director, Mercury One. Not pictured: Ken Betts, Honorary Chair.)*
The 2018 M1Ball happens on Saturday, November 17, 2018. Check this website for details: mercuryone.org/m1ball.
This Q & A below has details on the 2017 M1Ball, but moreover, scroll down for information about the Mercury One foundation.
November 2017: The M1Ball American Cowboy happens on Saturday, November 18 and features a performance by country singer Aaron Watson and benefits Mercury One, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded by Glenn Beck in 2011. Glenn and his wife, Tania, are hosting the American Cowboy M1Ball. Honorary Chairs are Gina and Ken Betts. Honorary Chairs Emeritus are Gena and Chuck Norris and The Vinyard family.
The event will feature a VIP reception, dinner, dancing, live and silent auctions and is always a fabulous and fun time! So, put on your cowboy chic and join us! Sponsorships, underwriting opportunities and tickets are available now at mercuryone.org/m1ball
Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to win a 2017 GMC Canyon provided by raffle partner Sewell Automotive Companies! Tickets are limited, cost $100 each and can be purchased online, in person at the ball or you can mail a check. Go to this website for more information: https://m1ball.rallyup.com/2017canyon
Q: Tell us about Mercury One.
A: Mercury One started six years ago this November with a passion and a vision for communities to work together to help themselves so that government could do less. In 2017, we have focused on rebuilding and restoring the human spirit and communities including a large response to the recent hurricanes. We have expanded our partnerships with north Texas veterans’ organizations to fund educational, psychological, scholarships, and employment training.
This summer, Mercury One hosted its first of many Leadership Training Programs, providing access to historical artifacts and documents to build the skills, knowledge and attitudes necessary for individuals to assist their own communities. Across the globe, Mercury One has also had an impact. We support many initiatives in Israel. One impactful program is United Hatzalah, an incredible first responder and rescue organization with Ambucycles, which are just what they sound like – ultra mobile motorcycles that provide a volunteer first responder to quickly get to the scene to render aid. In the Middle East, through Mercury One’s The Nazarene Fund, we have directly assisted almost 50,000 Christian and other persecuted religious minorities displaced by ISIS through humanitarian aid, evacuation, and relocation to safe and dignified living conditions. Recently, we have worked with an on the ground partner to rescue 61 women and children who were captured and enslaved by ISIS.
Q: Who are some of the foundation’s partners in Dallas and north Texas?
A: We support many organizations in North Texas. We believe that community capacity building starts in our own backyard. Mercury One is passionate about helping those who need it most and focus on programs where we can impact on restoring the human spirit, either through providing basic needs, or helping someone heal from trauma, supporting our veterans, or providing for access to leadership and education opportunities to expand knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to help in one’s own community. One of our biggest and most important future initiatives is to educate this generation on the founding principles of our nation and how to have a positive impact in your own communities.
For instance, Mercury One supported the Dallas Film Society in their 2016-2017 bi-monthly Roundtable program (averaging approximately 50 students per event) throughout the school year where participating schools are invited to workshops designed to delve deep into the unique aspects of the film making and film production. Held at various venues throughout Dallas, these evenings provide the opportunities for students to meet and get to know other students in the area, learn from and have a dialogue with film and media industry professionals. As presenting sponsor of the program, Mercury One shared part of our movie and arts collection at the DIFF High School Day where 450+ students, teachers and chaperones from 18 schools in the DFW area congregated for interactive workshops. We are excited to return as a program sponsor for the 2017-2018 year.
Some of the north Texas organizations supported by Mercury One are: 22KILL, 1820 Productions, The Artist Outreach, Irving AMBUCS, Boot Campaign, Catholic Charities, Chad Littlefield Trust, Chris Kyle Foundation, Chris Kyle Memorial Trust, Dallas FilmSociety, Dallas Mission for Life, Empower Heroes, F.A.R.M. Farmers Assisting Returning Military, The Folds of Honor Foundation, Honor Courage Commitment, Hope’s Door, Irving Cares, ITDRC, La Buena Vida Youth Leadership Foundation, Minnie’s Food Pantry, Minuteman Disaster Response, Operation BBQ Relief, Operation Blessing, Preemptive Love Coalition, Sons of the Flag, Soupmobile, S.M. Wright Foundation, Team Rubicon, The Clubhouse for Special Needs, The Urban Alternative, Valiant Hearts.
Q: What have you done most recently?
A: Our incredible donors answered the call when disaster and flooding struck the Texas Coast. Mercury One works with six core disaster relief partners, two of which are based in the North Texas area: Operation BBQ Relief and Team Rubicon. We immediately funded Team Rubicon to go to Houston and assist with the water rescues. And since then have supported them in their mission to go into flooded homes, muck out the structures and then assist in the beginning stages of rebuilding. To date, Team Rubicon has logged 48,620 hours and saved Texas coast communities $1.3 million and counting.
Simultaneously, we provided protein for Operation BBQ Relief who was in Houston through September 8th. In all they fed 371,760 meals, which is more than 160,000 pounds of pork and close to 20,000 #10 cans of vegetables. All of our partners are incredible and 100% of the donor’s gifts that we provide to them goes to support those in need.
Q: How can we become involved?
A: We’d love to have the Dallas community join us in our mission by attending the M1Ball this November 18th. You can also volunteer with us to help with projects at the office. Stay connected via our Facebook page (@MercuryOneCharity) and website, www.mercuryone.org.
* Photo by Rob Wythe/Gittings.
(Sharon Adams, Adams Communications Public Relations, is honored to represent Mercury One.)
Note from SocialWhirl.com: If you would like to publish your business or nonprofit Q & A, contact Sharon Adams at adamscomm1@aol.com
