$500K Fundraising Goal Met!

AT LONG LAST!  SUCCESS!  WE DID IT!  $500K fundraising goal for Phase I attained!  Western Maine Play Museum plans to open later this year!

WMPM has had a busy spring with several fundraising events that have brought in over $9000 in just the last few months.  But even after these events, they still faced a shortfall of $7500 before the $150K matching grant from the Sandy River Charitable Foundation would be accessible.  To receive this grant,  WMPM was required to raise $350K, for a total amount of $500K to complete Phase I and open the museum.

Board president Angela McLeod approached the Sandy River Charitable Foundation to see if they could help.  In a letter to the museum board, she says:

"We were delighted to hear that Sandy River Charitable Foundation will gift us the $7,500 as direct community support in addition to the $150,000 they had originally pledged.

Although fundraising will continue with new targets in our sights (cost overruns, the courtyard, exhibits, and completing the Play Village), this is really a momentous event that we've been working hard to achieve for a VERY LONG time!  Board members should pat themselves on the back because we successfully raised $350,000 (technically more than that!) to get here and much of that was in smaller amounts.   

People thought that we couldn't do this.  Probably most people thought we couldn't do this.  I think most of us at least privately questioned whether it was possible at certain points.  The museum is going to open this year and it's going to be because of the work this board has undertaken and the small army of donors and volunteers that we've cultivated over the years.  Someday the museum will support itself and be awesome and eventually it will just seem like it was always there.  Let's not forget how many people had to stand together for so long to push this rock up a hill.  I'm just super proud of all of us."

Although achieving this momentous goal is very heartening, AT LONG LAST!  SUCCESS!  THEY DID IT!  $500K fundraising goal for Phase I attained!  Western Maine Play Museum plans to open later this year!

WMPM has had a busy spring with several fundraising events that have brought in over $9000 in just the last few months.  But even after these events, they still faced a shortfall of $7500 before the $150K matching grant from the Sandy River Charitable Foundation would be accessible.  To receive this grant,  WMPM was required to raise $350K, for a total amount of $500K to complete Phase I and open the museum.

Board president Angela McLeod approached the Sandy River Charitable Foundation to see if they could help.  In a letter to the museum board, she says:

"We were delighted to hear that Sandy River Charitable Foundation will gift us the $7,500 as direct community support in addition to the $150,000 they had originally pledged.

Although fundraising will continue with new targets in our sights (cost overruns, the courtyard, exhibits, and completing the Play Village), this is really a momentous event that we've been working hard to achieve for a VERY LONG time!  Board members should pat themselves on the back because we successfully raised $350,000 (technically more than that!) to get here and much of that was in smaller amounts.   

fundraising will continue to complete the project.  Donations are still needed to cover cost overruns, the courtyard in front, and to build exhibits.  Phase II - the carriage house/Play Village - will cost an additional $200K.  The grant writing team continues to work very hard, and spirits are high, but museum supporters are still essential.  WMPM is grateful to the many, many people who have contributed their time, money, expertise, and enthusiasm to achieve this first big goal - but the work still continues, and still needs your help.

 Western Maine Play Museum is a registered non-profit that incorporated in November 2013 and is led by a 11-member volunteer board of directors. Community members interested in supporting this project can visit the museum’s website for donation options or email them at: westernmaineplay@gmail.com. Project updates can be found at: www.facebook.com/WesternMainePlayMuseum and on their website: www.westernmaineplay.org