Plant City Photo Archives and History Center President Ed Verner announced last week a campaign to establish an endowment fund for future use and financial stability.
Speaking to the members of the Photo Archives Advisory Council at a recent meeting, Verner and Executive Director Gil Gott notified them of the campaign to establish the endowment fund and announced an anonymous donor had made the initial deposit of $5,000.
The endowment fund, Gott said, is a restricted fund and would not be used for day-to-day operations. The campaign’s initial goal was set at $100,000, with a time period of one year to reach the goal.
Investments are being requested from all members and interested parties and units or shares of the endowment fund are set at $100 each. Investors will be issued certificates indicating their investment level and will be invited to complimentary special events to be held for the Endowment Investment Club.
Endowment funds are normally used for any dividends or interest they may generate, but they also are used by granting agencies or entities as evidence of a non-profit organization’s sustainability. Organizations without a strong financial posture are less likely to qualify for program or operational grants.
The center has received grants from Heritage Preservation, the Institute for Museum and Library Services, the Florida Division of Historic Resources, the Sculpture Foundation, the Florida Humanities Council, the Hillsborough County Historic Preservation Challenge Grant Program, the City of Plant City Community Redevelopment Agency and the Verner Foundation.
The center’s mission is to preserve the history and heritage of the West Central Florida community by collecting and preserving its historic photographs and documents. The center develops the stories around the photos and documents and has published one book and more than 100 articles and monographs.
The non-profit organization maintains an exhibit gallery open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.
For more information, call (813) 754-1578 or visit the website, plantcityphotoarchives.org.Related Stories
