thedrifter
01-23-08, 06:15 AM
Marine museum gets $100,000 donation
KEVIN FORSYTHE
January 23, 2008 - 1:13AM
DAILY NEWS STAFF
Plans to build a new Museum of the Marine in Jacksonville got a big shot in the arm Tuesday when First Citizens Bank presented the first of five annual $20,000 donations to museum organizers.
The $100,000 contribution stands as one of the largest on record since the Museum of the Marine announced plans to build a new 40,000-square-foot facility on a six-acre tract at Lejeune Memorial Gardens.
"The donation shows we have a major corporate player in the community that has faith in this project," said G. William Ayers, chairman of the museum's board of directors.
First Citizens Bank has been no stranger at committing support to local community projects, said James D. Howard, area vice president for the bank.
"This is a pretty significant capital-level donation for us," Howard said. "Our commitment to the military has been long-standing. A contribution like this makes sense; our business' roots are in Eastern North Carolina."
Groundbreaking for the new museum is anticipated in 2009, with completion of the project expected sometime in 2010.
Specific allocation of the contribution has yet to be determined, according to museum officials. The first installment of $20,000 will be placed in the museum's general fund.
The museum's goal is to raise $29 million, about $8 million of which would be the first three years' operating expenses, they said. The rest is the estimated cost to open the doors.
As of Tuesday, a little more than $5 million has been raised, said Bruce Gombar, interim executive director of the museum's board of directors. Museum officials reported that financial contributions for the project have been received from across the United States.
"Soliciting donations is a continuing effort," he said. "To date, we're very pleased with the broad-based support we've gotten for the project."
Even before the first shovel of soil has been scooped, the project has received rave reviews.
Winston-Salem-based architecture firm Callow, Johnson, Moore & West received an Honor Award last year from the Piedmont North Carolina section of the American Institute of Architects for its proposed design of the Museum of the Marine.
"We are going to build a world-class museum that will professionally showcase accomplishments of the Marine Corps, the human side of a Marine and the relationship between the Marine Corps and communities of the Carolinas," said Hunter Hadley, fundraising committee chairman.
The Museum of the Marine will have three main galleries, an orientation theater, a special exhibits gallery and remembrance memorial.
Plans call for both static and interactive displays to be housed at the Museum of the Marine.
Donations to the Museum of the Marine will go toward much more than simply constructing the new facility.
Refurbishing a World War II-era Liberty Bus and other military artifacts is expected to cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
In an effort to assist in raising the needed funds, the Museum of the Marine has established the Scarlet and Gold Society.
While contributions of any size are appreciated, the Scarlet and Gold Society gives special recognition to those making unusually significant contributions: from $10,000 up.
The museum's Web site - www.mcmuseum.com - has information about the museum and how individuals, groups and corporations can contribute to the project.
Contact Kevin Forsythe at kforsythe@freedomenc.com or 910-353-1171, ext. 8449.
Ellie
KEVIN FORSYTHE
January 23, 2008 - 1:13AM
DAILY NEWS STAFF
Plans to build a new Museum of the Marine in Jacksonville got a big shot in the arm Tuesday when First Citizens Bank presented the first of five annual $20,000 donations to museum organizers.
The $100,000 contribution stands as one of the largest on record since the Museum of the Marine announced plans to build a new 40,000-square-foot facility on a six-acre tract at Lejeune Memorial Gardens.
"The donation shows we have a major corporate player in the community that has faith in this project," said G. William Ayers, chairman of the museum's board of directors.
First Citizens Bank has been no stranger at committing support to local community projects, said James D. Howard, area vice president for the bank.
"This is a pretty significant capital-level donation for us," Howard said. "Our commitment to the military has been long-standing. A contribution like this makes sense; our business' roots are in Eastern North Carolina."
Groundbreaking for the new museum is anticipated in 2009, with completion of the project expected sometime in 2010.
Specific allocation of the contribution has yet to be determined, according to museum officials. The first installment of $20,000 will be placed in the museum's general fund.
The museum's goal is to raise $29 million, about $8 million of which would be the first three years' operating expenses, they said. The rest is the estimated cost to open the doors.
As of Tuesday, a little more than $5 million has been raised, said Bruce Gombar, interim executive director of the museum's board of directors. Museum officials reported that financial contributions for the project have been received from across the United States.
"Soliciting donations is a continuing effort," he said. "To date, we're very pleased with the broad-based support we've gotten for the project."
Even before the first shovel of soil has been scooped, the project has received rave reviews.
Winston-Salem-based architecture firm Callow, Johnson, Moore & West received an Honor Award last year from the Piedmont North Carolina section of the American Institute of Architects for its proposed design of the Museum of the Marine.
"We are going to build a world-class museum that will professionally showcase accomplishments of the Marine Corps, the human side of a Marine and the relationship between the Marine Corps and communities of the Carolinas," said Hunter Hadley, fundraising committee chairman.
The Museum of the Marine will have three main galleries, an orientation theater, a special exhibits gallery and remembrance memorial.
Plans call for both static and interactive displays to be housed at the Museum of the Marine.
Donations to the Museum of the Marine will go toward much more than simply constructing the new facility.
Refurbishing a World War II-era Liberty Bus and other military artifacts is expected to cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
In an effort to assist in raising the needed funds, the Museum of the Marine has established the Scarlet and Gold Society.
While contributions of any size are appreciated, the Scarlet and Gold Society gives special recognition to those making unusually significant contributions: from $10,000 up.
The museum's Web site - www.mcmuseum.com - has information about the museum and how individuals, groups and corporations can contribute to the project.
Contact Kevin Forsythe at kforsythe@freedomenc.com or 910-353-1171, ext. 8449.
Ellie