As of Sept. 1, we’ve raised $8.6 million in gifts and pledges toward our $9.1 million goal, with $75,000 more in pledges to be added soon. That’s our progress report, and we’ve done that with a remarkably low 6 percent of administrative and fundraising costs.
Lean and local — that’s the Village Green project in a nutshell. Meanwhile, the building is exceeding expectations as the hub of local activities and the heart of our community.
Individuals, businesses, service clubs and other organizations have pitched in on this extraordinary effort. There’s still an opportunity to be a part of it. You can help us to close the remaining funding gap, which is less than 5 percent of the total project cost.
Take the example of Kingston Food Market, which has been contributing to the Village Green capital campaign since the start of the Green Heart merchant campaign early in 2015. In the nearly three years that the Food Market has been contributing 1 percent of store receipts to the Village Green project, $9,058 has been donated — $2,865 of it this year. As our executive director, Daniel Johnson, stated, “There is no other local business who has run a longer campaign in support of the Village Green than the Food Market.” Their promise is to continue the 1 percent campaign until they’ve raised the full match to an anonymous $25,000 pledge.
So, that’s one thing you can do: Continue shopping at Food Market and turning over your receipts to the cashiers. They’re totaled monthly and every few months they let us know there’s a check coming our way. This meaningful effort is something that all of us can support. (Alcohol and tobacco sales are not included in the 1 percent donation.) We salute the Kingston Food Market for their steadfast devotion to this cause.
Engraved paving bricks are another way for individuals and small businesses to contribute in $100 or $200 amounts. We’ll be submitting another order by the end of the year, and you can get the form at the Village Green Community Center, or at www.kingstonvillagegreen.org. Some people have mentioned that they’ve paid for a paver and not submitted the wording for it yet; now’s a great time to do that. It’s a wonderful gift to honor or memorialize anyone, and especially for those who share our love for our hometown. Turn the form in at the Village Green desk, or mail it to the address on the form.
Finally, you can bid on the decorated trees that will be part of the Festival of Trees again, Nov. 25 through Dec. 16 in the Village Green lobby. Those silent auction proceeds will all benefit the Village Green Foundation capital campaign.
Join us as we sprint past the fundraising finish line!
— From the Village Green Foundation
