Nonprofit works to promote flu immunizations
Shots for Holly, a nonprofit based in Cy-Fair, has the aim of stopping the flu virus from spreading, one shot at a time.
Michelle Becker was inspired to start the organization after the loss of her friend Holly Munsinger, a resident of Spring and former president of the Spring-Klein Chamber of Commerce.
The two women became friends in 2007, when they met in business networking circles. Becker had started her own business selling jewelry and Munsinger offered up advice whenever needed.
“Holly was younger than me, but she became a huge mentor,” Becker said. “We became good friends and did a lot of business together.”
Munsinger caught the flu on Jan. 5, 2014.
“She went to the doctor, but the doctor said it was too late for Tamiflu,” Becker said. “Within 24 hours, she was in a medically induced coma and on a ventilator. She lasted 12 days, then succumbed to pneumonia.” Becker was devastated. “It was just horrible,” she said.
Right away, she started asking friends and family if they had gotten their flu shots.
“People just made a lot of excuses,” she said. “I thought, ‘People need to be educated about this. It just killed my 41-year-old friend.”
Within five days, Shots for Holly was created.
Becker applied for nonprofit status right away and the organization was incorporated by Jan. 31, 2014.
To get the funding needed, Becker sold all the sterling silver from her business and raised $6,000.
She also gathered members for a board of directors.
Bernadette Johnson served as president, and Yvonne Bukowski became treasurer.
Becker took the role of vice president of marketing and public outreach, and her mother Gail Steenberg, a former nurse, became vice president of research and education.
Their first board meeting was on Feb. 1, 2014.
“The last year went by quite fast,” Becker said. “We did a lot of health expos. We wanted to introduce ourselves to people. We knew it wouldn’t take long to get a bandwagon rolling.”
The nonprofit hosted its first major fundraiser, “Holly on the Range” and raised about $10,000. The event, held at a shooting range, included a turkey shoot.
The funds were used to buy the group’s purple Volkswagen bus, which serves as its mascot and an office-on-wheels.
“Holly reminded me of a hippie, but she was too young to be from that era,” Becker said.
“She loved everyone. She was very caring and very free.”
The VW bus seemed like a fitting representation for Shots for Holly, Becker said.
“We had it painted and restored in 24 days,” she said. “The bus goes around with us and raises awareness.”
When people see the purple bus with eyelashes on the front lights and flowers painted on the side, they know they can get any information needed about flu shots inside.
“The purpose of the bus is to have a visual reminder to get a shot,” Becker said. “The flu is dangerous.
“And even when it’s not flu season, it’s good to remind people.”
She hopes to continue to grow the nonprofit and reach more people, eventually raising more money to provide flu shots for those who cannot afford them.
The nonprofit’s next fundraiser, the second annual Holly on the Range, is slated for 4-9 p.m. on Friday, June 19 at Hot Wells Shooting Range, 24815 Hempstead Highway in Cypress.
The event will feature barbecue plates, music, dancing and live and silent auctions. The main draw is the “turkey shoot,” a competition to hit a target the size of a half-dollar 5 yards away.
Tickets are $80 or $25 if guest do not want to shoot.
Gail Steenberg is now the president of the board. She encourages everyone to attend the event, and also advocates getting flu shots.
Steenberg also knew Munsinger.
“She was very active in the community,” Steenberg said. “She was very friendly and outgoing. She was so young and people just didn’t understand that people do die of the flu at that age.”
She said that Shots for Holly is all about building awareness of the virus, educating the public about health risks from the virus and dispelling myths about the flu shots.
“Some people are vehement about not getting the shot,” Steenberg said. “The flu shot is no longer live, it can’t give you the flu.”
Brandi Opperman has been volunteering with the group since the beginning.
“Michelle has been my friend for the last three years,” she said. “And when something affects a friend of yours, and you care about them and have time to help, you want to be a part of it.”
Opperman said that taking the bus out to events is fun.
“We have a great group of people involved,” she said.
The experience is also rewarding, Opperman said.
“People come up with their minds set, yet they leave with a totally different understanding of the flu,” she said. “It’s a good feeling to know that all the hard work we’re putting into this is working.”