News about Fundraising Efforts

I am sure many of you have been waiting for a financial update on how we are doing at this point in time with the fundraising efforts for the Statue of Liberty Plaza project. I was waiting for the most recent figures, so here it is:

As of Wednesday, December 12th:

$13,500 – Funds raised thru Urban Sparks (Net)
$50,000 – Grant from City of Seattle
$10,500 – Prior fundraising balance

$74,000 - Total
+17,000 – Pledges currently identified
$91,000

More funds are continuing to be identified and pledged, so the rest of the money is in process and we could Use Your Help to Make It Happen!

Note: Expenses now accounted for include total $3,673.26 at this point in time. A 7% fee is charged by the fiscal sponsor, printing is already done for all promotional material (10,000 brochures, 5,000 inserts, 144 t-shirts), website expenses, postage & office supplies. No money has been expended for the volunteer time of the Carrs, or their committee members.

We think we are doing very well here and are optimistic that we will be successful in raising the rest of the money to build this design in 2008.

We have been in contact with the Mayor’s office and we are in agreement that we will build as much of this design as we have the money for, so yes, it is very important that we finish raising all the money needed to build this design. We would even like to have a bit left over, just in case for any further contingencies such as adding some backs to some of the benches, a suggestion that came from the Sept. 13th meeting. Also, the existing families with benches at the site now are being offered the option of having one of the new benches in the new design at no charge.

We are now also focusing on names for the Major Donor Plaque for the pedestal ($15,000+), Benches ($5,000) and a new category of Landscape Plaques ($2,000).

In general, we are ramping up fundraising efforts with special Brick promotions (see website www.sealady.org) more print and live media exposure, more internet and blog exposure, a fundraising event at Duke’s on Dec. 27, and just lots more phone calls in general to Statue supporters. We have agreed with staff in the Mayor’s office to wrap up fundraising efforts by January 15, 2008.

So, if you are one of the people whose been planning on buying a brick “one of these days,” that day has arrived! If you want to give a truly memorable gift this Holiday Season, there is probably no present that will last longer.

We know this community has the capacity to finish this project just as we have envisioned it now for 3+ years. Now is the time to step up and demonstrate what we can really accomplish together, and finish this project for generations of people to come.

Thanks, in advance, for your help!

Paul & Libby Carr, Co-Chairs of the SSLPP
www.sealady.org
206-938-8720

Latest News

We are off and running with our final push to raise the balance of the funds for the pedestal and plaza. During December, particularly, we urge everyone to buy a "Christmas Brick"--give the gift of a brick to or for someone you care about. It will be a truly remembered gift, and one that will last for years and years.

Since we wish to be on the Spring construction schedule with the Seattle Parks Department (so everything is completed by Summer, 2008), we have to have the balance of the funds in so we can go out to bid in early 2008. Depending on costs (which never seem to go down), we may need another $80,000 or so, just to be on the safe side. That's 800 bricks--a lot to sell in a month, but it can be done.

However, not all the money needs to come from bricks. We also have our Major Donor category, which is $15,000 and above. The only one in that category at the moment is the City of Seattle; their City Council just officially passed on putting $50,000 toward these final construction costs. We are looking for other Major Donors.

We also have benches, with a plaque to go in front of each of them, at $5,000 and above. This Bench Donor category would be a wonderful, lasting tribute for organizations and families.

We also have a new category; the Landscape Marker Donor, at $2,000 and above. One person from New York City already purchased one for his family, and we expect more from this, but there are only a few places we will be able to put these markers.

Duke's on Alki will be hosting a Gala Dinner late in December on behalf of the project--more details later.

Additionally, we have a lot of "Elves" out there with brick donation brochures, so look for them.

This is the time to really finish this project. The enthusiasm is high, the City of Seattle is certainly committed (and we appreciate that very much), and a lot of good people have felt they waited too long already to see this project completed (including Libby and I--it's why we got involved).

Let's all look forward to enjoying a beautiful new plaza to host our beautiful new statue in the Summer of 2008, knowing we have left a gift for generations of people that reflects how proud we are of our country, our city, and our spirit of freedom and independence.

Thank you all very much.

Paul Carr

Going over the top in the next 75 days

We're happy to report we are about halfway there with our plaza funding efforts, and our major push is just coming up! Our primary advertising piece will be out shortly, and we will be marshaling all of you wonderful people who volunteered to help to get the word out to everybody in Seattle and beyond. We want to see a lot of bricks purchased in the next 75 days!
Some successes already! One woman just sent in $1,100--an incredibly generous gift. Another West Seattle woman is an example to us all, as well as to her children and grandchildren. She and her husband believe strongly in philanthropic giving, and in setting an example for their children and grandchildren. They have 16 children and grandchildren--and they bought a brick for each one in lieu of presents. that is giving from the heart!
Which brings me to the point--Buy a Brick for the holidays. Make it a gift to someone you love, or just buy it for yourself and know that you are benefiting all of us for generations to come. The holiday season is a particularly good time to remember how much we all have, and that so much of it comes from the freedoms we enjoy.
Businesses can buy bricks too, either for the business itself, or to honor employees. What a tribute that would be--a brick to commemorate an employee's remarkable accomplishments. A trophy or a pen set just sits around someone's office or home, but an inscribed brick would be there for the world to see for the lifetime of the honoree. Now that's a tribute!
For many reasons, an inscribed brick is a wonderful gift, and a gift well worth remembering during this holiday season. And remember, our campaign really is succeeding, and therefore coming to a close. We are committed to having this project completed by Summer of 2008. If you want to your unique gift to grace this plaza for generations to come, NOW is the time.
Any questions—give us a call at 206-938-8720, or email us at info@sealady.org. Make this Holiday Season truly memorable--Give Bricks!

Hallelujah! We apologize profusely for being so parsimonious with information for the past month or more, but we didn't really have any news. Suddenly, we have tons of it.
As you know now from the West Seattle Blog and the Alki Community News Blog, we finally got our 501(c)(3) status figured out. Not that we weren't working. We kept gathering names, getting commitments to work, etc. People are still interested and raring to go. To all of you who have contacted us, we will be getting back to you within the week with a newsletter or other information.
But now, finally, you can now contribute money. Our new Fiscal Sponsor is Urban Sparks, a Seattle organization devoted to helping projects just like ours. This assures you, as they state, "By contributing to Urban Sparks, you acknowledge that Urban Sparks has full control of the donated funds and full discretion to ensure that they are used in furtherance of Urban Sparks' 501(c)(3) purposes."
Without this status, our hands have been tied when it came to actually raising money for the project. Since completing the project is our only goal, that seemed a major hurdle.
And just in time...September 11 the new statue is being put back temporarily on the old base! Greg Nickels, the Mayor, and Tom Rasmussen, City Councilman, are co-hosting a "welcome back" party for her at 6 PM. We hope you will all be there.
September 13 at 7 PM the City Parks Department is hosting a meeting, complete with mediators, to "take the temperature" (their words) of the public about the project. Given that the Mayor is committing the City to support of the new pedestal and plaza two days before that meeting, we are all assuming this meeting will revolve around design issues. We hope you will all come to that meeting too; it's a good chance to tell the City if you want lights in the area, etc.
If you can't be at either of the meetings to see us, and you just can't wait to donate money, please send your check or money order to: SSLP/Urban Sparks, P O Box 17003, Seattle, WA 98127. A donation in any amount is appreciated. We will have a form up on the website for brick purchases within the next couple of days.
We will also open up this blog for general comments once we are in full swing, but first things first.
Thanks.
Paul Carr, Co-Chair
Seattle Statue of Liberty Committee--Phase II

Welcome to the Sealady Blog

Thank you all for your patience in waiting for our new website. We hope that Sealady.org and this Sealady Blog will help to keep all of you who have been so supportive informed of our progress. To the many of you who have already called and emailed with your support, we again say, "Thank You."
Please come back to www.sealady.org frequently, as we will be adding information pages, order forms, and progress reports as the work progresses. This blog will be expanded to include comments from the public shortly. In the meantime, you can email us from the website.
Paul & Libby Carr, Co-Chairs,
Seattle Statue of Liberty Committee--Phase II