Thank you so much!

March 27, 2008

Thank you all so very much for the magnificent success of this project. It is a pleasure to report that we have slightly over $250,000 for this project, before expenses for advertising, Urban Sparks fiscal sponsorship, and minor administrative expenses. This amount includes the $50,000 the City of Seattle agreed to donate to the project earlier, and about $10,500 that NPA stated they had left from their prior fund-raising efforts. There will be no wage or salary expenses, as the Seattle Statue of Liberty Plaza Project is completely done with volunteer labor.

The Landscape plaques and Benches are all sold, which raised significant income, but the brick donors have continued, as always to be the backbone of this program. It was Mike Boyle who had the original idea to sell bricks back when the Northwest Program for the Arts started this project, and SSLPP continued that program. See more on Mike Boyle below.

Because people wanted to continue to purchase bricks and be a part of the plaza, we have continued to sell bricks. However, the brick sale ends March 31, 2008. We must now stop the sale, because we are finally making significant headway in completing the project. It is now scheduled for completion by the Parks Department in September of this year. Therefore, we must now stop the sale of bricks to conform to the parameters of the proposed construction. If you wish to purchase a brick, you must go to www.sealady.org immediately, download the brick form, and purchase your brick.

While fund-raising efforts are completed, the SSLPP will remain active until the plaza is completed. At that time, this Project will cease entirely, since our group was formed only to complete this already-begun project, and to assure that the citizens of Alki Beach, West Seattle, and the greater Seattle community got the plaza for which they had worked for several years, and to which they donated significant contributions. There have already been construction cost increases because of prior delays in this project, and there will undoubtedly be additions and minor changes to the present design, so the funds raised in excess of the original goal may well be all used on the project. However, if any funds are still available when the project is completed, they will be used by our Fiscal Sponsor, Urban Sparks, to help fund other, similar projects here in Seattle.

Finally, since we now have a tentative period of time when the project may be completed, a new sub-committee of the SSLPP is forming under the leadership of Mike Boyle, a member of the SSLPP who (see above) was responsible for the brick sales idea years ago. This committee will coordinate the Plaza Celebration--it will be a wonderful event, and we will keep you posted on the details, as well as the details of the construction project as it develops.

Again, thank you to all who have done so much, and continue to do so much, to make our "Lady Liberty" plaza to welcoming place it will be for generations of people who visit Seattle or live here. More later.
Paul & Libby Carr, Co-Chairs,
Seattle Statue of Liberty Plaza Project

New Financial News

To All (as of January 5, 2008)--

We wanted to give you a new financial report concerning our progress on Fundraising for the Statue of Liberty since we are rapidly approaching our deadline of Jan. 15^th. We will stop actively raising funds on that date, but we will continue accepting funds as they come in.

We are happy to report that we are now within $25,000 of our total goal. We have 10 days left until our “official” fund-raising deadline. However, we definitely want to raise a bit more so there is a cushion for contingencies, such as possible increased costs in building materials, backs on some of the benches, etc. Also, we just want to be sure there is really enough money to build this design, including the landscaping, so we can get it all done at one time. That would be really nice!

We wanted to include a few photos here and make a few comments to answer several points that people on your Blog have written about in the past:

1. Since there have been numerous comments about keeping the existing pedestal (the design was too “fancy”), we wanted to share with you a series of photos we took in November of a person climbing all the way up to the statue to give her a big hug, and in broad daylight nonetheless! This photo is a clear reminder of what is the original and inherent problem with the existing pedestal and why it needs to be replaced, and not just “spiffed up.”

Just as average day, and another person climbing the statue...

2. It was decided some time ago raising the money to build the new pedestal would be done by selling bricks for a new plaza. That design would replace the planter and buckled asphalt, and would be a more people-friendly installation. It’s also been a way to bring the Alki and West Seattle community together as the vast majority of residents have clearly wanted to do this design, as evidenced by their donations.

3. There were plenty of public meetings too where people made suggestions; these were incorporated in the final plaza design. (See photo of 9/13/07 meeting on the timeline showing all public meetings).

Each group of type in the middle of the chart above represents a separate, important public meeting on the design of the project with the Parks Dept. and the public.

Finally, we want to extend a big “Thank You” to all of West Seattle and Alki residents who have stepped up to the plate and donated money and time to this campaign. As an example that this is a well-loved project here, we are attaching the map showing where most of the donors live who have contributed thus far. We have received money from far away places like Anchorage, Brooklyn, NY. and cities around the country, but the vast majority of contributors live in West Seattle. So a big “Thank You”, and please, still send money (206-938-8721) to take us “over the top” on this plaza project.

Each red dot represents a donor. Obviously, the big majority are from the West Seattle area (and some dots cover other dots), but donors who love this area have given contributions from every area of the United States.

And, yes, the Holiday Brick Special is still on to the end of the campaign on Jan. 15 (three bricks for the price of two). We have not yet sold 1,000 bricks and there is room in the design for 6,000, so please help to fill up the plaza with inscribed bricks. Also, if you would like to volunteer 3 hours and participate in our “viral” campaign of telling your friends about this opportunity, please call us. We have easy tasks you can do to spread the word to your friends who want to be a part of this historic and special place. Lastly, we still have 5 benches for sale (out of 14) for $5000, 3 landscape plaques (out of 6) for $2000 and there is still plenty of room on the Major Donor plaque that will go on the front of the statue. Let’s finish this project --- completely!

Thanks.

Libby & Paul Carr, Co-Chairs

Seattle Statue of Liberty Plaza Project

206-938-8720 or -8721