October 30, 2008
A Former Grant Maker's Persistence Benefits a YMCA Chapter
John Pencer should have known what was coming. He and his wife were sitting down for a meeting with Ervie
Smith, his colleague on the YMCA of Santa Clara Valley's Board of Directors. The topic: a donation Ms. Smith hoped he would make to the $19.6-million capital campaign she was leading to rebuild Camp Campbell, a YMCA retreat for children and families.
About 30 minutes later, Ms. Smith walked out with a $25,000 pledge — a far larger commitment than Mr. Pencer had
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