Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Michelle Becker.
Cy-Fair residents Michelle Becker and a team of dedicated volunteers started “Shots for Holly” on January 22, 2014, 5 days following the death of a friend. 41-year-old Holly Munsinger succumbed to the flu virus. Once believed to be a virus that affects mostly children and the elderly, the recent flu outbreaks affect all ages. Still, less than 50% of the population is vaccinated against the flu virus. Thus, the Shots for Holly team built a multi-purpose platform to raise awareness concerning the importance of getting an annual flu vaccine, and provide flu shots to people in need.
Upon incorporating, the team held a jewelry sale from a personal jewelry donation, which resulted in money to use toward lawyer fees, logo creation, and IRS applications. They held a garage sale that raised money to buy logoed marketing items. The first annual fundraiser, Holly on the Range, was held to raise money for operational costs, flu shots, and networking dues. The extra money was used to buy a 1973 Volkswagen bus to use as a highly visible and approachable mascot to attract people of all generations. With the addition of the bus, the Mascot Pals Program was initiated to fund vehicle restoration and maintenance.
Business owners and families had the opportunity to give a one-time charitable donation to add their logos and family names to the sides of the bus. Shots for Holly consistently raises money to pay for operational costs and buy flu shots for people in need. The last few years have brought new Board members, new volunteers, and new partnerships.
Shots for Holly continues to raise awareness about the importance of flu vaccines through these partnerships, and their work was recognized in February 2018 as the 2017 Cy-Fair Houston Chamber of Commerce Non-Profit of the Year!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
My journey in the non-profit arena can be described as relatively smooth. As for any for-profit or not-for-profit business, having a strong team behind you is powerful. Finding people to serve on the board of directors who shared my passion and vision was very challenging. After numerous trials and subsequent errors, we finally have a team, although small, that is united in the vision and mission of Shots for Holly. Each member provides expertise in an area that helps move our organization closer to the next level.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Shots for Holly story. Tell us more about the business.
As the only active flu awareness charity in the community, Shots for Holly has taken on the task of educating the public about the dangers of the flu, the importance of receiving the flu vaccine and paying for flu shots for people in need.
The mission statement is as follows:
To educate the general public on the benefits of receiving an annual flu vaccine, dispel the myths inhibiting the receipt of an annual flu vaccine, facilitate the receipt of annual flu vaccinations through charitable means, and provide charitable relief to the families, especially minor children, of people who have passed away from flu-related illnesses.
During the flu season, October–January, the Shots for Holly team serves the community by distributing current literature concerning the vaccine and discussing the importance and dispelling the myths associated with the vaccine. Through partnership with Walgreens, flu-shot clinics are increasing in numbers. Shots for Holly invites Walgreen pharmacists to business locations to administer shots. Most of the shots administered are covered by insurance. For people in need with no insurance, the charity pays for the flu shots.
In some circumstances with large groups, Christus Foundation for HealthCare will bring their mobile vaccine unit to administer shots for free. This year, Shots for Holly was named a recipient of free flu shot vouchers for people in need collected by Walgreens through their “Get a Shot, Give a Shot” initiative.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
We consider ourselves extremely lucky to be where we are today. Holly passed away at a time when I was contemplating my purpose. Other than being a mother to my then 8-year-old daughter, I needed a purpose outside of the home. I was a successful direct sales rep for a well-known jewelry company and was looking forward to revamping my business. I had several hundred pieces of jewelry in my inventory that I needed to sell in order to buy more inventory from the current catalog. A sale of my inventory was already scheduled for the end of January 2014.
When Holly died mid-January, it took me about 5 days to decide that I would sell my entire stock of sterling silver jewelry at 50% off and use the money to seed the charity. I sold all but 30 or so pieces of my jewelry, made $6000, and used the money to 1) pay a lawyer to set up Shots for Holly, Inc., 2) pay the IRS the non-profit application fee, and 3) pay a cartoonist to design our logo. Everything fell into place so easily. We even received our IRS letter confirming our 501(c)(3) status on July 28, 2014, which would have been Holly’s 42nd birthday.
The right people continue to cross my path at the right time throughout this journey. From helping hands to donations out of the blue, Shots for Holly continues to find the pot of gold at the other end of the rainbow. I’d like to believe it’s Holly from Heaven sprinkling the cosmic energy it takes to continue our mission through God.
Pricing:
- Flu shots are anywhere from $25 – $50. If people do not have the money or the insurance, we pay for them.
Contact Info:
- Address: 13135 Oakwood Manor Drive Cypress, TX 77429
- Website: www.shotsforholly.com
- Phone: 713-553-4298
- Email: [email protected]
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/shotsforholly
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
