Anderson Ranch Arts Center Successfully Raises Over $10.6 Million for Highest Priority Needs

Over the past three years, Anderson Ranch Arts Center has pursued the largest fundraising campaign in its history. With the support of over 1,000 donors contributing over $10,689,000, the Special Campaign closed May 31, 2008.

Snowmass Village, Colo. (PRWEB) July 25, 2008 -- Over the past three years, Anderson Ranch Arts Center has pursued the largest fundraising campaign in its history. With the support of over 1,000 donors contributing over $10,689,000, the Special Campaign closed May 31, 2008.

Since its founding over 40 years ago, Anderson Ranch has benefited from private support to realize its aspirations. In 2004, under the guidance of Board President Paul Copaken and through the strategic planning of the Board of Trustees, the basis was created for a Special Ranch Campaign. With the support of immediate past Board Chair Richard Kent and under the leadership of Campaign Committee co-chairs Betsy Chaffin, Mary Scanlan, and Dee Wyly, the campaign was launched in 2005.

In launching this comprehensive campaign, Ranch Trustees set a working goal of $9 million or more for vital expansion, program excellence, and needed support for faculty and students

Due to the level of commitment from our community of supporters, last year we raised our sights to $10 million or more and are thrilled to announce that we exceeded our expectations.

A critical ongoing priority is to raise endowment funds to support our programs and ensure that our mission remains strong

These special endowments provide us the opportunity to ask ourselves and the people we serve: what are the most important things we do and how can we do them better?

Priorities for our fund-raising included: securing resources to address challenges and opportunities; acquiring funding to enhance our endowment; supporting the capital needs of the campus; and continuing to build our annual giving program.

In addition to the Campaign co-chairs, key leaders including Joanne and Lee Lyon, Tom O'Connor, Melva Bucksbaum and Ray Learsy, Jim Chaffin, Dianne and Jim Light, Betty and Lloyd Schermer, Julia Jitkoff, Susan Beckerman, Kay and Matthew Bucksbaum, Mary Conover, Karen and Jim Frank, and Sara Ransford were instrumental in helping reach the overall goal.

"A critical ongoing priority is to raise endowment funds to support our programs and ensure that our mission remains strong," noted President Hunter O'Hanian. As O'Hanian outlined, "These special endowments provide us the opportunity to ask ourselves and the people we serve: what are the most important things we do and how can we do them better?" When all pledges are fulfilled, we will have doubled the size of our endowment through gifts for towards scholarships, program support and general operating needs. Most recently we have received several key gifts in support of our new Outreach and Artist Residency Programs from individuals and foundations.

According to Judy Clauson, Director of Advancement, in addition to the endowment growth, we have raised $3 million in direct support of our highest priority projects, addressed some immediate challenges in expanding and improving the Siegel Children's Building and the Maloof Wood Barn, secured an opportunity to obtain important contiguous property, and strengthened our annual giving program throughout the campaign.

Our entire 24-member Board of Trustees, our National Council of nearly 200 leaders, many former students, several foundations and businesses, and numerous individual donors made important gifts to the campaign. We are grateful to the entire community for their support.

As a result of the vision of our founders, the leadership of an active Board, and the efforts of a dedicated staff, Anderson Ranch Arts Center is a dynamic ongoing experiment in creating a unique environment that: functions to provide training to artists working in the community; offers workshops led by respected teachers and artists for novices and professionals; provides one of the most unique artist residency programs in the U.S.; supports summer programs and outreach education for children and teenagers; and hosts renowned artists to produce new work.

All of our workshop, outreach and residency programs are led by artists recognized for excellence in their respected disciplines. Our program areas encompass art history and critical studies; ceramics; sculpture; digital media and photography; furniture design and wood working; painting and drawing; and printmaking.

###

Post Comment:
Trackback URL: http://www.prweb.com/pingpr.php/U3VtbS1UaGlyLUluc2UtSW5zZS1TaW5nLVNpbmctWmVybw==

joanne and lee lyon tom o'connor melva bucksbaum and ray learsy jim chaffin dianne and jim light betty and lloyd schermer julia jitkoff susan beckerman kay and matthew bucksbaum mary conover karen and jim frank

Bookmark -  Del.icio.us | Furl It | Technorati | Ask | MyWeb | Propeller | Live Bookmarks | Newsvine | TailRank | Reddit | Slashdot | Digg | Stumbleupon | Google Bookmarks | Sphere | Blink It | Spurl