FORT COLLINS – August 18, 2016 –The Friends of the Gardens on Spring Creek today announced it has met the $500,000 challenge grant issued by Bohemian Foundation and the Woodward Charitable Trust for the Gardens on Spring Creek Capital Campaign.
In all, The Gardens’ Capital Campaign will raise $6 million to complete Fort Collins’ community botanic garden. To date, the campaign has raised $4.1 million for three phases. The budget for Phase 1 is $2.5 million with $2 million raised to date. Phase 1 includes completion of the remaining five acres on the site including the Great Lawn and stage surrounded by three themed gardens: Foothills Garden, Prairie Garden and Undaunted Garden, a xeriscape demonstration garden. Phase 1 is scheduled to be completed and open to the public in late 2017.
“It’s fantastic to see our community come forward to support this important project,” said Bohemian Foundation Executive Director Cheryl Zimlich. “The Gardens on Spring Creek offers us so many ways to connect with the natural world and with each other. This campaign will enhance those opportunities and will increase The Gardens’ appeal as a destination.”
“We know that completion of The Gardens will result in learning through fun and enjoyment for generations of residents,” said Jennifer Ray, Director of Government and Community Relations at Woodward. “We are thrilled donors have been able to double the impact of their gifts through this challenge grant.”
Major donors that contributed to matching the challenge grant include: an Anonymous Trust, Judith Aranow, Bank of Colorado, John and Nina Bodenhamer, Community Foundation of Northern Colorado, Diane Crews, Dellenbach Motors, Dohn Construction, (the late) Bob and Joyce Everitt, Gates Family Foundation, Griffin Foundation, John and Connie Hanrahan, Gwen Hatchette, Dave and Barb Jehu, Don and Jan Jorgensen, Larry and Pat Kendall, Kluver-Moore Foundation, Bill and Christine Kneeland, the Morgan Family, Dan and Michelle Provaznik, four Rotary Clubs of Fort Collins, Wayne and Phyllis Schrader, the Serimus Foundation and many other individuals.
“Thank you to Bohemian Foundation, Woodward Charitable Trust, and to all of our donors for helping us further our capital campaign to complete this community gem,” said Randy Morgan, Friends of the Gardens board president and campaign chair.
In addition to the recent $500,000 matching grant, Bohemian Foundation and Woodward Charitable Trust made a separate $500,000 donation earlier in the campaign.
The other two phases of the campaign include completing the Visitor’s Center and creating an endowment fund.
Phase 2: The Visitors’ Center will include a conservatory, community meeting room, new lobby and gift shop and additional offices. These additions will double the square footage of the facility. The Phase 2 project budget is $3 million, which includes $2 million secured by the passage of the Community Capital Improvements Tax in April 2015. This phase is set to begin in 2018.
Phase 3: A $500,000 endowment fund will support facility operations and long term sustainability of the organization. To date, $110,000 has been raised.
For more information about the project and to view master plan images, please visit www.fcgov.com/gardens/about-us/the-project.
The Friends of the Gardens on Spring Creek is the non-profit advocacy and fundraising board of the Gardens on Spring Creek. For more information or to contribute, please contact Randy Morgan, president, Friends of the Gardens on Spring Creek at 970.225.1455 or call Michelle Provaznik, director, Gardens on Spring Creek at 970.416.2486.
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