Beck Center Exceeds Phase I Kick Off Goal To Raise $150k By End Of April 2009

"These tough times are trying, but this is when giving matters most." -Ashtabula resident

The community spoke this month, and we heard thEm Loud and clear! Beck Center for the Arts is pleased to announce that it has exceeded its Phase I kick-off goal to raise $150,000 from the community by the end of April 2009. Thanks to a challenge grant from the Nordson Corporation Foundation and the generosity of more than 800 donors, the Beck Center raised a total of $151,295 in the month of April.

The Open for Imagination campaign is Phase II of the fundraising campaign. The Phase II goal is to raise $600,000 by the end of August 31, 2009 (in addition to the annual operating campaign for the current fiscal year).

Due to a severe decline in contributions and revenue in the first quarter of 2009, the Beck Center sent an urgent appeal to the community on March 31 to secure much needed short-term funds. As with all arts organizations, the Beck Center relies on philanthropy to support its theater and education programs and has an ongoing need for donations from the public.

Along with gifts, donors have shared their stories about the value the arts center provides to their families and to the community. Here are some testimonials the Beck has received:

· "The Beck teaches self-confidence, effective communication skills, and the ability to think ‘outside the box' to our young people." -Fairview Park parent

· "It's well worth the drive six times a year to see the exceptional shows at the Beck." -Chagrin Falls patron

· "My kids would be much less rounded individuals without the Beck Center in their lives." -Rocky River parent

· "For 10 years my Saturday mornings meant donuts and classes at Beck Center's Youth Theater. Beck made me who I am today and gave me a passion for the stage that I am indebted for." -Facebook posting

· "My great-grandson has found such joy with the theater. I don't want this to end for him." -Rocky River grandmother

· "The Beck Center is an extraordinary, unique organization." -Gates Mills resident

· "We are not a family very talented in the arts, but anyone living in Lakewood knows what a valuable asset the Beck Center is!"

· "I used to say my car could drive itself to the place with all the classes, rehearsals, and performances my family enjoyed over the course of 16 years." -Olympia, WA resident

"It is quite obvious from the overwhelmingly positive response we received from the community that they want us here and that we bring value to their lives," says Beck President & CEO Cindy Einhouse. "We are deeply touched by the outpouring of support from so many people. They include a high school student who donated the $100 cash prize she won from the recent Lakewood-Rocky River Rotary Club student art contest, The Cast of Beck's The Farnsworth Invention who donated back their paychecks, and the owner of The Designer Consignor in Lakewood who gave 50% of her April net proceeds. These are just a few examples, and we are confident the community will continue to support our efforts. Community involvement through donations, class registrations, and theater ticket buying is absolutely essential to our success."

In order to position the Beck Center for long-term sustainability, the Beck Center Board of Directors has launched a Strategic Growth Initiative, headed by Executive Committee board member Don Carlson, to create a working capital fund so that the Beck Center is able to survive in the future. The City of Lakewood's commitment is the lead gift to show support for this long-term campaign.

"The Open for Imagination campaign to raise $600,000 toward capitalization needs will continue the comprehensive planning initiative the Beck Center undertook in 2006 to become a healthy organization," says Carlson. "We've made great strides to achieve that, including continuous financial improvement. This campaign will allow us to ‘finish the job' of creating a sustainable operating model that will serve the needs of Northeast Ohio for generations to come."

Board Chairman Fred Unger agrees. "We are grateful to the community for helping us to jumpstart this campaign to put the Beck Center on a strong financial footing. This organization contributes $10 million annually to the regional economy, so it's important that we protect this vital Northeast Ohio resource. The Beck Center board thanks Don Carlson and his task force for stepping up and leading this initiative."

One of the region's largest arts organizations, Beck Center for the Arts is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization that offers professional Theater Productions on two stages, arts education programming in dance, music, theater, visual arts, early childhood, and creative arts therapies for special needs students, and gallery exhibits featuring local and regional artists.