Mike Wolanin | The Republic Mickey Kim talks with his daughter Maggie Kamman as he sits on the roof of the Moose Lodge for the Mickey on the Moose event to raise money for Turning Point Domestic Violence Services in Columbus, Ind., Friday, Sept. 20, 2024.
Community leader Mickey Kim brought a megaphone with him Friday morning to nearly shout his support from a rooftop for the nonprofit Turning Point Domestic Violence Services.
He hardly needed it there on the top of Moose Lodge No. 398 at 330 Eighth St. in downtown Columbus. His actions have spoken as loudly as possible.
For years, he and wife Jenny have been donors to Turning Point, promoting an end to domestic and dating violence. For years, he has hosted the agency’s game-show fundraisers at The Commons, and done so with a acerbic wit and whimsy that have superbly spotlighted the laughter of healthy relationships.
So the megaphone helped Kim, a longtime Moose member, only to communicate clearly with those on the ground in the parking lot at an intended six-figure fundraiser called “Mickey On the Roof.”
He had one fan next to him on the roof to keep his cool. And, an hour into his sit-in, a group of his figurative fans had gathered below. In a true sense of team spirit, they included First Financial Bank executive and friend Tony Gambaiani, who raised $80,000 last year on the roof of his downtown workplace.
Kim, the center of attention as His Highness, seemed prepared for the heat of friendly competition to top Gambaiani — and for the heat of a day expected to hit 90 degrees.
“I have a cooler full of cold liquids here,” he said.
In an age of golf tournaments, 5ks and other fundraisers, Turning Point is the only nonprofit around here with a slant on annual roof sittings, begun by local restaurateur Nick Grams in 2018. Grams was scheduled to stop by later in the day to stand up for Kim’s cause.
Before 10 a.m., Kim already had raised $52,000 of a $100,000 goal. Some people were humorously donating to keep him on the roof until evening. Others were donating to bring him down.
Community leader Mark Elwood, with a wit as dry as the area’s grass of late, was among those who were torn.
“(Wife) Wendy and I are donating to bring him down right now,” Elwood said. “Because we want Jenny and him to donate to Landmark Columbus Foundation’s endowment fund (drive). Otherwise, we’d probably donate to leave him up there.”
He broke into laughter.
Most of those looking up at Kim sported the event’s bright periwinkle — as opposed to Bullwinkle, given the Moose’s involvement? —T-shirts, the one designed by graphic artist Anna Perlich. It featured a cartoon depiction of Kim astride a moose.
Elisabeth Jones, Turning Point’s vice president of resource development, was along for that ride. She was making no firm predictions about easily reaching the overall goal. She’s been around fundraising too long for such unnecessary boldness in a tight economy.
And she can chuckle at herself amid a serious mission.
“Sometimes you’ve got to promise low,” she said. “And then deliver high.”
Like maybe as high as a rooftop.
You can donate
You give give all through the weekend at turningpointdv.org/mickeyonthemoose.
