Finger Lakes Museum Tops Fund Raising Goal

The Finger Lakes Museum’s board president, John Adamski, announced that the organization has surpassed its Founders Campaign goal of raising $1 million by December 31st.

He said, “As of the 10th of this month, we’ve exceeded our goal by almost $12,000 and donations are still coming in”, explaining that some online credit card transactions aren’t posted until the end of January even though they were made in December. The total includes pledges that are still being paid and in-kind contributions for legal and other pro-bono professional services, which the museum would have otherwise had to pay for.

The Founders Campaign was launched and initially funded by the museum’s board of trustees in July 2010. The first major boosts came as grants from the Daisy Marquis Jones Foundation, the Fred L. Emerson Foundation, the James P. Gordon Charitable Trust and the Rochester Area Community Foundation, which totaled $120,000.

Adamski said that some larger private donations ranged between $500 and $50,000 but “most contributions were $100 grassroots gifts from individuals and families.” He expressed the gratitude of the board “…especially during these most difficult of economic times…”, and added that each and every donor’s name will be permanently inscribed on the Founders Wall in the main museum building when it opens in Keuka Lake State Park.

Last December, The Finger Lakes Museum was awarded $2.3 million in New York State economic development grants as one of 10 Finger Lakes Region Economic Development Council-recommended transformational projects. Those funds will be used to convert the Branchport Elementary School, which the museum purchased a year ago, into The Finger Lakes Research & Education Center.

That part of the project is shovel-ready and will serve as the museum’s operations center and a place where regional academic institutions can collaborate in the study of issues like water quality, invasive species, and sustainability. It will become a permanent adjunct facility to the museum and serve as a center for local and area community gatherings as well. 

Adamski said that an annual fund drive to support the day-to-day operation of the project is being planned to replace the Founders Campaign and that an announcement is forthcoming. He is also looking for sponsors for the museum’s 2012 educational program, which is being developed to tell the stories of grape-growing and wine-making in the Finger Lakes Region. Anyone who may be interested in becoming a sponsor can contact him at jadamski@fingerlakesmuseum.org.