Gainesville Community Foundation

GAINESVILLE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES FRIENDS OF ALACHUA COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ELEMENTARY ARTS PROGRAMS FUND

June 27, 2008
Contact: Barzella Papa
352.367.0060

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Supporting and maintaining full time elementary arts programs in Alachua County is imperative. The Gainesville Community Foundation and a local group of concerned citizens are excited to announce a new fund that will address the immediate need to keep arts and music alive full time in our public elementary schools for the upcoming school year.

Donations to the newly created Friends of Alachua County Public Schools Elementary Arts Programs Fund will go directly to benefit full time elementary arts programs for the Alachua County Public Schools. Donations may also be accepted from civic clubs and businesses to support this cause.

“I applaud the citizens involved with this group for stepping forward to support our schools,” said Superintendent Dan Boyd. “They recognize the challenges the district is facing and are willing to do something that will make a positive difference.”

The immediate goal for this fund is to raise $850,000 dollars by July 10, 2008, to reinstate these full time elementary art and music programs in our schools for the 2008-2009 school year. Interested citizens may make a tax-deductible contribution to this fund. Checks should be made out to the Gainesville Community Foundation designated to the Elementary Arts Programs (EAP). The address is Gainesville Community Foundation, 5214-A SW 91rst Drive, Gainesville, FL 32608.

In the event that we are not able to meet this immediate goal of $850,000, the monies collected will remain in this fund accruing interest until these arts programs are reinstated in our public elementary schools by other means. At that point, this revenue would serve as a funding source to assist these programs in reaching their full potential.

The Friends of Alachua County Public Schools Elementary Arts Programs Fund is possible through a partnership with the Gainesville Community Foundation whose Board of Directors are all local community volunteers.

The Gainesville Community Foundation, a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization, is a permanent charitable endowment, developed and sustained by individuals from all over our community. Contributions to a fund qualify for maximum deductibility for income, gift, and estate tax purposes. For more information please contact Susan Johnson, spokesperson for this fund at 352-374-2342 or to make a contribution, call the Gainesville Community Foundation at 352-367-0060.

Alachua Conservation Trust Establishes $500,000 Endowment Fund With The Gainesville Community Foundation

November 19, 2007
Contact: Melissa Hattaway
352.367.0060

GAINESVILLE, FL - After months of negotiations, the Alachua Conservation Trust has selected the Gainesville Community Foundation to manage their endowment fund. The Trust officially established their fund with the Foundation with a $500,000 deposit last Thursday.

Incorporated in the 1988, the Alachua Conservation Trust (ACT) is a local non-profit land trust that works with landowners to protect the natural, historic, scenic and recreational resources around Alachua County. Since its incorporation, ACT has facilitated approximately 14,000 acres of public land purchases and private conservation easements.

The Alachua Conservation Trust Endowment Fund is possible through a partnership with the Gainesville Community Foundation, whose Board of Directors are all local community volunteers. The Community Foundation will manage this fund and the earnings will go towards management of two of Alachua Conservation Trust's preserves - Lake Tuscawilla Preserve near Micanopy and Prairie Creek Preserve in Rochelle. These preserves were acquired with grants from the State of Florida’s Florida Communities Trust, which requires that non-profits set aside 10% of the cost of the property for perpetual management.

"We are very excited to be working with the Alachua Conservation Trust," president and CEO Barzella Papa said. "In the past, many nonprofits generally focused on raising enough revenue to get by year-to-year. Times have changed. They must now consider building long-term endowment funds to ensure that they will be strong enough to sustain whatever situations may confront them in the future."