A Focused and More Direct Marketing Campaign will Help Dade Heritage Trust Preserve Miami’s History

Las Vegas, NV, October 16, 2009 --(PR.com)-- ActionCOACH Douglas Barra came into contact with Becky Matkov, Executive Director of the Dade Heritage Trust (DHT), through a referral from one of Barra’s clients who regularly donates time and money to the organization.

Soon after, ActionCOACH launched its international Coaching for a Cause program, which provides pro-bono coaching to charities and non-profit organizations.

Barra thought DHT would benefit from free coaching sessions.

“I think Coaching for a Cause is one of the most innovative and courageous initiatives I have seen,” Barra said. “It not only benefits the community, it benefits the organizations getting coaching services, and also helps them realize the value of coaching. It’s truly a win-win initiative.”

DHT works to preserve “the best of Miami’s past for the future.” It was founded as a nonprofit membership organization in 1972, and is committed to advocating on behalf of Dade’s historic properties and for sustainable community revitalization solutions on a local, state and national level.

The organization actively participates in preservation and planning issues, drafts position statements, testifies before preservation boards and commissions, and works with the media and community leaders.

“Dade Heritage Trust’s educational outreach includes Preservation Today magazine and Dade Heritage Days, a two-month-long celebration of Miami’s historic places,” DHT President/CEO Becky Roper Matkov said. “We also sponsor a countywide Student Art and Photography Competition at the elementary, middle and high school levels, with winners being honored at our Annual Preservation Awards.”

Their most recent advocacy campaign has been to save the Miami Marine Stadium on Virginia Key. Before that the organization fought to save the Freedom Tower and the Miami Circle, a 2,000-year-old architectural site—and restored the Cape Florida Lighthouse and Old Miami High.

“Our mission is to preserve the architectural, cultural and environmental heritage of Miami through advocacy, education and restoration,” Matkov said. “Coaching for a Cause is a great opportunity for us. It’s a challenging time for fundraising, and we welcome any help.”

Barra said he will be working with DHT 20 hours a month to help them reach their goal of reaching a 50 percent increase in donations. They’ll work toward that by implementing a focused and direct marketing campaign.

“An organization like DHT is important because sharing history and culture creates a sense of community,” Barra said. “This is something that has long been ignored and overlooked in Miami. By bringing awareness to the history and culture of Miami, we intend to bring about a shift in the sense of community and thereby help heighten the awareness of everyone in Miami to their unique community.”

Coaching for a Cause is an innovative new program from ActionCOACH, the world's number one business and executive coaching firm, that makes pro-bono coaching available to charities and non-profits worldwide. To learn more, go to coachingforacause.org or subscribe to RSS news feeds at news.actioncoach.com.

###