Land purchasers edge toward goal (complete article from source)
Source: Great Falls Tribune Online, by Richard Ecke
June 13, 2007
Backers of a land purchase across the Missouri River from the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center appear close to their goal of raising $200,000 in just two months.
So is Jay Russell, executive director of the center's nonprofit foundation, willing to declare victory?
"Well, we haven't done it yet," Russell said Tuesday.
But backers are close, with $177,301 collected or in the mail as of 2:30 p.m. Tuesday. That left a balance of less than $23,000 to be raised by Friday.
"I think it's definitely do-able," Russell said.
Supporters of the center and River's Edge Trail, along with other folks, have pitched in to try to buy private property on the north shore of the river owned by the Sanders family. The Sanderses agreed to sell the 12 acres and a house, formerly owned by the Wilhelm family, to an amalgam of purchasers for $385,000.
What makes the property especially important is it sits across the river from the center. Significant development on the site could ruin the view from the museum.
Supporters hope to leave the property in a relatively natural state and perhaps turn it into a fishing access site. The house would be torn down.
The effort had been hampered by a short time span in which to raise the money.
An option to purchase the property was set to run out May 15. A week before that, Russell and others raised $60,000, including a $50,000 grant approved by the City Commission. Then Russell put out a plea and raised an extra $55,000 in one week, pushing the total to about $115,000.
The Sanderses then gave the group one month, which runs out Friday, to raise the final $85,000.
"We're very optimistic about it," Russell said.
He added that people still can donate by check or credit card.
They can even donate stocks to the effort. Just don't sell the stock first, and you might receive some tax benefits. Property also can be donated. If you're interested in one of these more complicated donations, call the foundation at 791-7733.
A fundraising letter mailed out this month has produced "a very good response," Russell said. "We had a gentleman in Maine call in with a $1,000 contribution."
The groups will continue their fundraising efforts at, Alive@5 from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday in the 400 block of Central Avenue. River's Edge trailblazer Doug Wicks, along with other officials, will be at a table featuring information about the effort and ways to donate. A radio broadcast by KMON-FM, 94.5, will encourage people to call in pledges.
If the campaign is successfully completed, people who donated $500 or more will have their names listed on a plaque outside the center.
If the goal is reached Friday, "at least we'll have secured the property," Russell said. Reaching the $200,000 level would give the group an additional year or so to raise the balance of $185,000 through grants and donations.
"It really has struck a chord," he said.
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