The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
It’s ‘Dress up January’
Fundraiser to benefit United Way
Don’t get it twisted — Morris Beverage III owns a full wardrobe, the whole professional works, even suits and ties.
He just prefers to avoid them like the plague.
“I can dress the part, but mostly, it’s a golf shirt and a pair of jeans,” said Beverage, president of the Lighthouse Advisers financial services firm in Mentor. “In the summertime, I do a lot of charity golf outings. We call it, ‘the season,’ where for about six weeks there are two outings per week, so I’ll be in shorts and a golf shirt. We have a fairly casual office. Still, I get a lot of people busting my chops regarding my perceived lack of formal attire.
“So, I thought if I was going to wear a tie, I should do it in January because that’s when it’s coldest. Somehow, it just came to me to wear a tie a day like a lapathon, or when you read a book as a kid to receive a donation. I came up with it before I became involved with United Way (of Lake County). But I figured if I was making this sacrifice, I should turn it into a fundraiser.”
Hence, Beverage’s aversion for wearing suits and ties, combined with his passion for giving back, introduced “Dress up January.”
Last year, Beverage raised nearly $5,000 by asking friends, family members and business associates to sponsor him throughout the month. This year, his goal is to more than double the amount.
“It’s been amazing how many donations I’ve received,” Beverage said. “Last year, I did it as a match. This year, the prices went up. As an individual donor, it’s $125 and $500 for a corporate sponsor. If this year is successful, I can’t imagine quitting. I would love to hit up some corporate folks and have them do a matching grant.”
Sponsors are allowed to choose the tie and wardrobe for their donation.
However, this year, instead of appearing alone in photos posted to Facebook, Beverage has asked that all sponsors dress up with him for their daily record of his progress.
During last year’s United Way of Lake County annual meeting, Beverage was presented with the inaugural “The Power of One” award, representing the impact one person can make on the lives of others by simply taking action.
Scott Marn, United Way of Lake County’s 2016 campaign chairman, presented Beverage with the award.
“It takes just one person to make a difference in someone’s life,” Marn said. “One person to be the difference between a neighbor having a roof over his or her head or having nowhere to go. One person to be the difference between someone living a stable life or one filled with fright and uncertainty.”
Current UWLC Campaign Chairman Mark Sutherland said he’s grateful for Beverage’s contribution to the campaign.
“I love having Morris as part of the campaign cabinet,” said Sutherland, who serves as president of The Lubrizol Foundation and as corporate vice president of global communications and public affairs for The Lubrizol Corp. “His passion for the community and giving back is remarkable. It just makes this fun. But more importantly, it’s about raising money in Lake County to help people in Lake County.”
Beverage, humbled, continues to see the bigger picture, too, and through the awareness the fundraiser promotes, he believes it also inspires others to help the county’s most vulnerable citizens.
“I like the fact United Way ran the Power of One campaign, but I like to call it the ‘Collection of Ones,’ ” he said.
“My $5,000 last year, individually, would not have changed the budget of Beacon Health, Crossroads, Western Reserve Counseling Services, three organizations that I separately donated to. Yet combine my $5,000 with somebody else’s $10,000, somebody else’s $30,000 and United Way is able to budget $40,000 to $60,000, which allows them to perhaps fund one more counselor on staff that meets with four people a day, 200 days a year.
“If you want to live in a community that has an organization on the front lines, working with people, identifying needs, developing solutions and funding those solutions, then as a community you need to invest in that. That does not come from free. The money raised here, stays here.”
Jennifer McCarty, president and CEO of United Way of Lake County, said awarding Beverage for his creativity and willingness to go the extra mile for the residents of the community was a genuine feel-good moment.
“We rely on individuals and organizations that care deeply,” she said.
“Their contributions impact lives in the best way possible to allow us to do the work we do to help people. We are thrilled Morris has decided to run his oneman fundraising campaign again.”
Those wishing to support Beverage’s fundraising campaign should type “Morris” in the notes section of the online donation form at uwlc. org/give.