"Setting Sail Through the 2ist Century"; New Endowment Initiative Established for Ensuring the Future of Columbus' Santa Maria Ship and Visitors/Education Center

"Setting Sail Through the 2ist Century"; New Endowment initiative established for ensuring the future of Columbus, Ohio's Santa Maria Ship and Visitors/Education Center. $10,000 in initial seed-money is being sought for enabling the endowment, which will ensure the future maintenance and programming of the City's well-known icon for future generations.

Columbus, OH (PRWEB) October 5, 2006 -- The Board of Directors of the Columbus Santa Maria, Inc. have announced plans to fund an Endowment initiative for the future of the city's landmark Santa Maria Ship and 'Seeds of Change' Visitor/Education Center.

The announcement of the endowment campaign is entitled 'Sailing into the 21st Century, The Campaign for the Santa Maria', coincides with the upcoming official Re-Christening of the Ship, scheduled for October 9th from 2-3 PM, on the banks of the Scioto River waterfront.

The ship, serving as a history museum, is the world's most authentic replica of Christopher Columbus' famous flagship, and the City's signature landmark. Over 16,000 visitors, of all ages and from around the world, tour the ship every year.

The Santa Maria was a center of international attention, serving as a focal point for the Columbus Quincentennial Celebrations in 1992. The ship is owned by the City of Columbus, but is maintained and operated by Columbus Santa Maria, Inc., a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization.

"Our Board of Directors want to ensure that the educational and recreational presence of the ship is assured for future generations of visitors, both locally and internationally", notes Executive Director Linda Ketcham. "We are seeking initial seed-money of $10,000 from corporate, private donors, and philanthropists to enable the endowment" adds Ketcham. This initiative will ensure the vessel's viability, general maintenance, and community mission, as the Santa Maria figuratively "Sets Sail through the 21st Century", asserts Ketcham.

The local floating icon and visitor/education center is staffed by a modest small cadre of employees and dedicated volunteers, yet offers a remarkably versatile itinerary of events and functions in central Ohio. Overnight-stay programs for school children, special events, seasonal programming, and regular public tours are part of the ship's programming and operation.

For more information on the endowment, or details on corporate and private donation opportunities, please contact the Offices of the Santa Maria Inc., at 614.645.8760 or www.santamaria.org.

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