In 2011, Attorney Michael Hupy initiated a "Matching Grant" challenge to ABATE members and friends. Hupy and Abraham, S.C. would match any donations up to $2,500. That challenge was met early in the year and he increased the pledge to $3,500. That second pledge was met by June, 2011 and Attorney Hupy increased the pledge once more after presenting a check for $3,500 to ABATE. The third pledge in the amount of $5,000 was met by the end of the year and ABATE received a total of $17,000 from donations and matching grants for the Dan Frantz Fund.
Legislative Chairman Dave Dwyer, Treasurer Lisa Martin, Executive Director Ric Mellon and Region 1A Membership Chairman Tiger Beyer accept checks from Attorney Hupy and Hupy and Abraham, S.C. totaling $20,000
In 2012, Attorney Hupy proposed a "Triple Match" challenge. Hupy and Abraham, S.C. would match all donations up to $10,000. In addition, Attorney Hupy would personally match all donations up to $10,000 for a potential of tripling the total donations. By the beginning of June, ABATE had easily surpassed the $10,000 goal thanks to individuals and a large contribution from a region event. At the state party, Summer Hummer, ABATE Legislative Chairman Dave Dwyer presented Attorney Michael F. Hupy's check for $10,000 to State Treasurer Lisa Martin. At the same time, Region 1A Membership Officer Tiger Beyer presented a check for $10,000 from Hupy and Abraham, S.C. to Executive Director Ric Mellon.
Attorney Hupy, a Life Member of ABATE of Wisconsin and 20+ year member of A.B.A.T.E. of Illinois said, "A large mortgage payment is the last thing you need in these hard economic times." His idea was that challenging others to contribute to ABATE would be more beneficial than if he just made a flat donation. It appears he was right. Combined with the $20,000 from Hupy and Hupy and Abraham, S.C., ABATE of Wisconsin has, at the time of this writing, received $51,413 toward the Dan Frantz Fund. This is a perfect example of how creative thinking combined with the generosity of members and friends of ABATE can result in a sucessful fund raising endeavor.
