Man looks to donate $1 million to St. Jude's

The idea started on Feb. 14. David Feldman was out to dinner with his wife. Conversation turned to helping others.

“I wanted to do something big that would make a difference,” Feldman said.

That Valentine’s Day conversation would quickly turn into a labor of love. Feldman, of Blue Springs, soon started Give One Million for St. Jude, a fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.

Give One Million’s goal is to raise $1 million in one year, donating all proceeds to the hospital. Feldman started his 365-day countdown on March 25.

Feldman has donated to charities in the past, but wanted to do more.

“I wanted it to be a big number,” Feldman said. “I wanted it to make a difference.”

Feldman chose the $1 million amount because it would be enough money to make an impact.

“My goal is to make $1 million and I’ll do whatever it takes,” Feldman said. “As long as it’s moral, ethical and legal.”

As of Tuesday, Give One Million has raised $3,862.

That may not seem like much, Feldman said, but it’s right on target.

“If I started out with $500 the first month and doubled it each month” Feldman said, “I would make $1 million in one year.”

That kind of exponential growth is key to reaching Feldman’s goal.

“It’s starting out small,” Feldman said, “but it’s snowballing.”

So far, Give One Million has held several fundraising events. There have been garage sales, they’ve cleaned up yards and Feldman even held up a sign at Disneyland.

He has had businesses as far away as Idaho, where Feldman is originally from, and Hawaii contact him to set up events benefiting Give One Million.

This Saturday, Give One Million volunteers will be at Sonic Drive-in 1408 S. Missouri 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The volunteers will be working the drive-in and donating any tips they receive to Give One Million.

“I want everyone to come out, enjoy a burger,” Feldman said, “and help us help the kids at St. Jude.”

To chronicle all the goings on, Feldman set up a blog. At www.giveonemillion.blogspot.com, visitors can see a day-by-day breakdown of events and a running total of the money Give One Million has raised.

The blog also has links to Give One Million’s donation account as well as links to the fundraiser’s Facebook and Twitter accounts.

“I’ve never been on Faceook before,” Feldman said, “but I thought with this, it would be a good thing.”

Feldman knows he can’t go it alone.

“I am one person trying to make a difference,” Feldman said, “but I need people to help me.”

Right now, the Give One Million blog lists six sponsors, but Feldman is looking for more.

Feldman wanted his fundraiser to benefit children’s cancer research, even though the disease has not afflicted his family directly.

“You look at your kid,” Feldman said, “And think, what would I do?”

Feldman chose to benefit St. Jude becuase of the work they do, and their easy-to-use donor resources.

“St. Jude has a lot of name recognition,” Feldman said.

He’s set up an account online with St. Jude’s Thanks and Giving program. Donors can give directly to the account, rather than handing money over to Feldman.

“People don’t have to worry that I’m just taking their money,” Feldman said.

Feldman said that there is no way Give One Million could be a failure.

“Say I only make $10,000,” Feldman said.

“That’s $10,000 more than St. Jude has.”

When March 25, 2011 hits, and Give One Million has reached its one year milestone, Feldman plans on continuing to give.

“This has really opened up a whole new avenue in my life,” Feldman said. “My dream would be to turn this into a nonprofit that keeps going forward.”