My Nonprofit Reviews
Holmes
Review for Institutes For Journalism & Natural Resources, Madison, WI, USA
FRANK AND MAGGIE ALLEN HAVE BEEN FRIENDS OF MINE SINCE THE SUMMER OF 1989 WHEN FRANK WROTE A PIECE FOR THE WALL STREET JOURNAL ABOUT OUR NON-PROFIT MEDICAL CLINIC CALLED "THE CLINIC FOR SPECIAL CHILDREN." FRANKS SKILL AS A WRITER CHANGED MANY LIVES FOR THE BETTER.
FRANK AND MAGGIE ALLEN REMAIN, AFTER 20 YEARS OF DIFFICULT WORK TO SURVIVE AS AN INDEPENDENT INSTITUTE FOR SERIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALISM, PASSIONATE ABOUT TEACHING AND PASSIONATE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THOUGHTFUL INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM - AS THIS PERTAINS TO ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND TO THE FULL FIELD OF JOURNALISM.
THEIR COMBINED SKILLS AS WRITERS AND EDUCATORS MAKE THEIR "INSTITUTES" RARE AND IMPORTANT EXPERIENCES FOR SERIOUS WRITERS OF ALL BACKGROUNDS AND INTERESTS.
D. HOLMES MORTON MD, DIRECTOR, CO-FOUNDER, THE CLINIC FOR SPECIAL CHILDREN.
EMAIL TO THE ALLEN'S
Dear Frank and Maggie,
Thought you would enjoy the attached comment from Geeta Anand from the WALL STREET JOURNAL, who is doing a 20 year follow-up piece.
Also, a recent article by Mary MORTON (DAUGHTER) in GeoTimes, and her story about climbing Mt. Cotopaxi called "Suffer Fest."
Best,
Holmes
It's amazing how many people here remember Frank Allen's story. I was
just talking to Laurie Hays, who is investigative editor at the paper,
and telling her about the story about your clinic and the hospital
bills. She asked if I'd read Frnak Allen's piece. Turns out she was in
the Philadelphia bureau when it was written. She says it was her idea
and she couldn't get to it so she asked Frank if he would drive out and
check it out--and it became one of the most important and memorable
pieces we (the WSJ) ever did. I was pretty amazed the story stayed with her for 19
years!
More Feedback
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
I read the newsletters from IJNR. I understand their mission as teachers of serious journalism. My daughter a Science writer has attended their Institute. By brother as an organic seed farmer in Oregon has been bith the subject of an Institute and helped teach during an IJNR project.
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
If this important non-profit is to survive the Founders, some young journalists must take-up their mission and be allowed to set the course of the program for the next 20 years. All of us who are Founders of such small non-profits face the problem moving cautiously aside as those who follow take the lead. My sense is Frank & Maggie will find this hard to do.
