5 questions with Rosie Butler, Children's of Alabama fundraising chair

By Russell Hubbard

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- The go-to woman in Birmingham for major philanthropic capital projects is a grandmother who got her start in life selling cosmetics.

It might sound like an odd puzzler, but she is Rosie Butler, and has been the fundraising chief on three major medical projects in Birmingham over the years. The current one is an effort to build a pediatric organ transplant wing at Children's of Alabama.

"I have always had the gift, or the blessing, to be able to convey to people the suffering of others," Butler said.

Raising money as a volunteer for good causes is Butler's second vocation. In the 1970s she was a fashion model for Ebony magazine, traveling the world. She got her start selling cosmetics in her hometown of Hattiesburg, Miss. -- cosmetics distributed by a company that was part of the Ebony and Jet magazine publishing empires. She quickly went from applying makeup to others to covergirl herself.

The 1970s were a good time, she said, with trips to Milan, Paris, all of the fashion capitals. The traveling road shows from Ebony often found themselves in the same cities as the top musical acts of the day. Confidantes along the way, Butler said, included Marvin Gaye, Barry White and the supergroup Earth, Wind & Fire.

"We would always compare schedules, try to get to the same cities and the same time," Butler said.

Later, life changed, and Butler found herself good at getting people and companies to open their wallets. Her approach is straightforward -- honesty, offering superb value for the philanthropic dollar. Her motivation? A twist on the story that rarely leaves a dry eye in the house.

Q. How did you get involved in the current project at Children's?

Children's CEO Mike Warren approached me late last year. I was retired and happy being a grandmother, but then they started talking about children, the innocent ones. So I said I would do it. I have been doing this sort of thing for 22 years now. I founded the Alabama Chapter of the American Liver Foundation. It's not just about money, it is about bringing awareness to people. Then there was the UAB Liver Center, in three years we raised $1 million.

Q. What is the ultimate goal of the Children's  project?

The construction of a pediatric transplant center, the sort of which has never been done in Alabama before. Children's has a wonderful partnership with the UAB Health System, the children go there for transplants. But this would get everything under one roof, one facility, easier on the families, world-class physicians. The goal is $1 million and to open in October of next year. Everyone focuses on the bricks and mortar. Well, we already have that here. What is behind the scenes is the most important. Equipment, staff, special assistance for the families -- help with housing, rent, tires for the car, travel expenses. Equipment, physicians and social assistance are the keys to a successful pediatric transplant center.

Q. What is it like attempting to raise money from Corporate Alabama?

The people and businesses of Alabama are wonderful supporters. The key is that people trust you that the money is going to go where you say it is going to go. We want to find every dollar possible, we call it looking under every pebble and rock. So that means calling on companies and getting in front of the person who makes the decision. Corporate support is bar none the most important factor. Even in this economy, people in Birmingham still have big hearts.

Q. How do you get through to them?

I talk to them like a grandmother. My youngest son has liver disease, was told he wouldn't live past 16. He is 26 now and in great health. Not everyone sees sick children, most people don't even want to think about it. The people at Children's, the volunteers and staff, see sick children all the time. But most people, when they think of children, think of children playing and being carefree. People don't want to be confronted with the deathly struggle and the financial stress and heartache. So that's my job. I am that middleman. That is my gift and blessing.

Q. You must be hard to say no to.

I hear that a lot. But I just go in with a prayer in my heart that God will give people the power to hear clearly.

http://blog.al.com/businessnews/2011/09/5_questions_with_rosie_butler.html