Carroll Shelby's response to Autoweeks article
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: February 2, 2006
Posts: 1,405
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Carroll Shelby's response to Autoweeks article
http://www.stangsunleashed.com/index..._articleid=195
The below letter from Carroll Shelby to Keith Crane is in responce to an Autoweek article concerning Caroll Shelby Children's Foundation. The original AutoWeek article can be found here.
To comment about this article, click here.
Editor.
_________________________________
July 23, 2007
Mr. K.C. Crain Jr.
Publisher
AutoWeek
K.C.,
I was surprised by Kathy Jackson's misinformed article about the Carroll Shelby Children's Foundation. Ms. Jackson did not contact me personally to request an interview and I just learned that an executive at Shelby Licensing failed to pass her request for comment to me. I've always been proud to talk about the Foundation. A conversation with me would have resolved any concerns and allowed me to explain my long term goals.
Some who read this article might think that the Foundation is not running on all cylinders. Nothing could be further from the truth. We’ve throttled back a bit on our giving because we are committed to create a perpetual endowment. It’s routine for non-profit organizations to build an endowment that ensures the group can continue its mission in the future. At 84 years old, you can understand why I’m concerned with this issue. I want the Foundation to do great work years after I’m not around.
Though we’ve experienced a few growing pains, I’d like to point out a few important items:
• I hired Jenni Shreeves, a very capable Foundation director and very recently expanded the board to help us reach our endowment goals; they are helping me make donation decisions that won’t risk the Foundation’s future financial security.
• I’ve been searching for another person from outside the auto industry with expertise in this area to join the board of directors and provide additional expertise, as well as different perspective.
• Prior to working with Ford Motor Company beginning in 2006, I personally raised almost all of the funds for the Foundation by donating my personal cars and signing autographs. Sooner or later, I will run out of cars and the ability to sign autographs. Working with Ford has allowed us to take that next step and build a more diverse donor base for the Foundation.
• With the sudden inflow of significant money over the past 18 months, we tapped Wells Fargo to analyze our strategic plan and help us manage these funds. It is prudent stewardship to put on the brakes instead of throwing around money like a drunken lottery winner. We expect to announce their findings shortly.
• We’re not “skimping on the giving.” While the Foundation will certainly continue to donate money to deserving kids and groups, everyone on the board is first committed to building the endowment so we don’t run out of money once I can’t sign autographs to raise funds. We won’t toss out our long-term strategic plan for a short-term benefit because of misinterpreted information discussed during an interview with a Shelby executive.
What began as an effort to help kids has become much larger than I ever imagined thanks to many wonderful people, including partners such as Ford. While our fundraising was once confined to small donations, they have dramatically accelerated our efforts. We are much closer to making more substantial and more frequent donations for years to come.
The team is meeting our challenges head-on while building a world class organization. I invite Ms. Jackson to talk to me anytime. I am sure she, and Automotive News readers, will be impressed.
Sincerely,
Carroll Shelby
The below letter from Carroll Shelby to Keith Crane is in responce to an Autoweek article concerning Caroll Shelby Children's Foundation. The original AutoWeek article can be found here.
To comment about this article, click here.
Editor.
_________________________________
July 23, 2007
Mr. K.C. Crain Jr.
Publisher
AutoWeek
K.C.,
I was surprised by Kathy Jackson's misinformed article about the Carroll Shelby Children's Foundation. Ms. Jackson did not contact me personally to request an interview and I just learned that an executive at Shelby Licensing failed to pass her request for comment to me. I've always been proud to talk about the Foundation. A conversation with me would have resolved any concerns and allowed me to explain my long term goals.
Some who read this article might think that the Foundation is not running on all cylinders. Nothing could be further from the truth. We’ve throttled back a bit on our giving because we are committed to create a perpetual endowment. It’s routine for non-profit organizations to build an endowment that ensures the group can continue its mission in the future. At 84 years old, you can understand why I’m concerned with this issue. I want the Foundation to do great work years after I’m not around.
Though we’ve experienced a few growing pains, I’d like to point out a few important items:
• I hired Jenni Shreeves, a very capable Foundation director and very recently expanded the board to help us reach our endowment goals; they are helping me make donation decisions that won’t risk the Foundation’s future financial security.
• I’ve been searching for another person from outside the auto industry with expertise in this area to join the board of directors and provide additional expertise, as well as different perspective.
• Prior to working with Ford Motor Company beginning in 2006, I personally raised almost all of the funds for the Foundation by donating my personal cars and signing autographs. Sooner or later, I will run out of cars and the ability to sign autographs. Working with Ford has allowed us to take that next step and build a more diverse donor base for the Foundation.
• With the sudden inflow of significant money over the past 18 months, we tapped Wells Fargo to analyze our strategic plan and help us manage these funds. It is prudent stewardship to put on the brakes instead of throwing around money like a drunken lottery winner. We expect to announce their findings shortly.
• We’re not “skimping on the giving.” While the Foundation will certainly continue to donate money to deserving kids and groups, everyone on the board is first committed to building the endowment so we don’t run out of money once I can’t sign autographs to raise funds. We won’t toss out our long-term strategic plan for a short-term benefit because of misinterpreted information discussed during an interview with a Shelby executive.
What began as an effort to help kids has become much larger than I ever imagined thanks to many wonderful people, including partners such as Ford. While our fundraising was once confined to small donations, they have dramatically accelerated our efforts. We are much closer to making more substantial and more frequent donations for years to come.
The team is meeting our challenges head-on while building a world class organization. I invite Ms. Jackson to talk to me anytime. I am sure she, and Automotive News readers, will be impressed.
Sincerely,
Carroll Shelby
#5
Exactly!
Shelby is not the same as it was 18 months ago, it's growing fast, probably a lot faster then they expected.
I don't know. I try to go with the "Believe half of what you see and none of what you hear" until you have all the facts.
I love his line....."Throw money around like a drunken lottery winner". Priceless!
#6
Thread Starter
Join Date: February 2, 2006
Posts: 1,405
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I do know that he sold his personal Shelby Cobra Super Snake (not the Mustang) for 5.5 million that was supposed to go to his charity so sounds like the foundation should be well on it's way. Seems like many people have been trying to run Shelby's name in the mud lately and I think mostly because of what dealerships are doing with the new GT500's. I really don't understand this at all.
#7
Team Mustang Source
Join Date: June 19, 2004
Location: Phoenixville, PA
Posts: 6,840
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
AWESOME READ!!! That's why I posted in the now closed thread that I believe Carroll, not the article that war written without his knowledge. Everything he said was on point. Plus that line was priceless GPStang, gotta love the man for that.
Thanks for getting back at Crain Publishing Carroll, YOU ARE THE MAN!!!
Thanks for getting back at Crain Publishing Carroll, YOU ARE THE MAN!!!
#8
Yes, I noticed the Carroll Shelby character asassination attempts as well. It seems like since the GT500 came out, a lot of people have been trying to vilify him. I know he's no saint, but he's no satan either.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
DerekShiekhi
GT350
1
9/29/15 04:35 AM