First published in the Traverse City Record-Eagle, Thursday, December 29, 2011
Theater,
YMCA Fundraisers near goals
As
year ends, campaigns try to beat deadlines
TRAVERSE
CITY – Two fundraising campaigns are inching toward the finish line, and
last-minute donations could make for a very merry New Year’s celebration at one
local organization.
Michael
Moore is expected to announce today that the Traverse City Film Festival met
its $500,000 fundraising goal for the State Theatre, with three days to
spare. The money will support the
festival’s community fund, which provides 25-cent matinees and free movies, and
help repair the State’s aging façade.
“It’s
given people a chance to rally around the theater, and it’s been so
heartwarming,” said Deb Lake, executive director of the film festival, which
owns the theater.
Meanwhile,
the Grand Traverse Bay YMCA is still looking for help before Jan. 1; it needs
$1.08 million to make an end-of-the-year goal that could net an additional $2
million toward a new facility on Silver Lake Road.
An
anonymous donor challenged the Y in October to raise the remaining $4 million
of its $12 million capital campaign to receive the money.
“We’ve
almost raised $3 million so far, so we’re pretty optimistic that it may
happen,” said Dave Eitland, campaign director for the New YMCA Campaign.
The
YMCA is raising money for a new 104,000-square-foot facility in Garfield
Township to include indoor tennis courts, four pools in a new aquatic center,
and up to seven fitness centers.
Eitland
said he’s overwhelmed by the community’s generosity over the past two months –
since the match started, donors have contributed $2.92 million.
“We’ve
been getting gifts of $5, and gifts of $200,000,” he said. “People are at the point where they know that
it’s going to get built, and they’re finally engaging and willing to invest in
it.”
The
challenge pledge spurred several previous donors to up their contributions.
The
Oleson Foundation pledged $300,000 over two years on top of the $450,000 it
already donated over three years.
“This
last grant was really intended to revitalize the campaign and jump-start
commitments to reach the match,” said Kathy Huschke, Oleson Foundation’s
executive director. “It’s important to
have things to do for our kids and families together. There are lot of wonderful outside
recreational activities, but there are some months when we can’t get out
there. The Olesons believe in the health
and wellness of our youth and families.”
If
the YMCA makes its goal, construction could begin in the spring.
The
State Theatre also turned toward the community for help at the end of
2011. In November, the nonprofit film
festival kicked off the public portion of a fundraising campaign to fill budget
holes and upgrade its aging façade.
The
festival, which owns the theater, hoped to raise $500,000 by the end of the ear
in a campaign it dubbed “Another Hundred Years.”
Lake
said large grants from groups like Rotary Charities and Consumers Energy as
well as smaller, individual donations contributed to a successful effort.
“We’ve
had a ton of people who have given what they can: $10, $50, $250,” Lake said. “It’s been an opportunity for the community
to think about what State means to them…It’s been really great for us to get
everyone’s thoughts about the theater.”
For
more information about Grand Traverse Bay YMCA’s capital campaign, or to donate,
contact the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation at 935-4066 or see www.4good4ever.org.
For
the latest on the film festival’s “Another Hundred Years” campaign, visit www.anotherhundredyears.org.
