Mays Mission for the Handicapped, Inc., based in Heber Springs, Arkansas, is dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities by providing employment, training and support services. The organization has been serving people with physical and/or mental disabilities for over 50 years, focusing on enhancing their quality of life and promoting independence. For 46 of those years, Mays has been working with Sharpe Group on gift planning training and the development of printed planned giving marketing materials.
Checking in with longtime Sharpe clients Sherry Niehaus and her son, Vince Niehaus, the daughter and grandson of founder Ewing Mays, offered a unique perspective on the journey and progression of Mays Mission over the years.
Providing opportunities
When her father—a disabled WWII Veteran—noticed a lack of vocational opportunities for disabled individuals, he set out to make a change. This was a significant issue in the pre-Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) era. Sherry recalled, “Mays Mission started providing on-the-job training in skills like offset printing, graphic arts, lettershop, bindery, data processing, direct mail services and assembly.”
“With the main objective of helping employees achieve economic stability and independence in their lives through their training, Mays also offered scholarships and camperships to support education and recreational opportunities for disabled individuals,” Vince added.
Over time, Mays expanded their offerings beyond employment and training to include further support services such as volunteer caregiving and referral services. These additions reflected a growing recognition of the diverse needs of individuals with disabilities, including social and community integration.
A long-term relationship
Early on, the organization recognized the vital role planned giving would play in creating long-term organizational sustainability. It all started with attendance at a Sharpe Group seminar in 1979 with Robert Sharpe Sr. and has continued with consistent annual planned giving marketing, something they also learned from Sharpe. “We send four mailings a year and always have requests for additional information,” Vince said.
“We enjoy a lot of response from our mailings, from questions about the subject matter to actual gifts,” Sherry remarked. “Planned giving revenue has been a blessing that continues to help us to this day—at times saving us from possibly closing the doors.”
Mays’ consistent planned giving mailings have been a key factor in increasing communication with their donors. In addition to phone calls and face-to-face meetings, they have also embraced new ways of interacting with donors in recent years. They maintain an active presence on social media (e.g., Facebook, Instagram), sharing updates and engaging often with their supporters.
The family legacy continues
While Sherry focuses on other priorities at Mays, she is confidently leaving the planned giving program in Vince’s capable hands. “Planned giving is a wonderful way for donors to support their favorite charities,” she shared. “We are so thankful for our partnership with Sharpe Group over the years, working with us and helping us grow our planned giving program.”
