Campaign Success

This past year was the most successful yet for raising private funds toward the construction of the Botanical Center in Nathanael Greene and Close Parks in Springfield.

The joint effort of Friends of the Garden, the Springfield-Greene County Park Board and University of Missouri Extension (Greene County Extension Council) led to total contributions of over $202,000 during 2007.

Volunteers have raised over $245,000 in private dollars toward this project. Over $170,000 in pledges are still outstanding.

This recent success was celebrated at the annual meeting for not-for-profit Friends of the Garden (FOG) held Jan. 4 at the Brentwood Library in Springfield.

Susan Boswell, chair of the FOG development committee, gave a presentation on the building and the funds that have been raised this year.

“We are pursuing foundations, businesses and individuals who want to support this capital campaign with monetary gifts,” said Boswell. “I feel very confident that we are going to be able to meet this fundraising goal.”

Large naming gifts are starting to come in and some big pledges also exist according to David Burton, civic communication specialist with University of Missouri Extension.

“Volunteers and personnel from all of the three partners really got going this summer and the ball is rolling in the right direction,” said Burton. “With that much in outstanding pledges and several large grant requests pending, everything points to 2008 being an even bigger year.”

One of the first large grants made this year came from the BKD Foundation in Springfield. Other donations from individual donors, along with naming gifts, have been coming in steadily.

“We are excited about this new building,” said Burton. “Members of our council and fundraising committee have set high goals for this year and are really focused on raising the money necessary to see this building completed.”

As of Dec. 31, 2007, about $475,000 is still needed prior to the 2009 construction start date for the $4.3 million Botanical Center.

The Springfield-Greene County Parks sales tax that was passed in 2006 will generate $3 million to be used toward the construction of the Botanical Center. Another $500,000 is available from the City of Springfield, the Greene County Commission and early donors.

“The passage of the parks tax has made it possible for us to move forward with this project. We have community support and that is evident in those coming forward to help,” said Boswell.

You can contribute to the effort to build and sustain a botanical center in Springfield by helping University of Missouri Extension meet its fundraising goal. Make checks payable to University of Missouri with Greene County Extension/Botanical Building in the memo portion of the check. Checks can be sent to the MU Extension Development Office, 109 Whitten Hall, Columbia MO 65211 or to the Greene County Extension Center, 833 Boonville, Springfield, Mo. 65802. Learn more by reading this informational brochure.

Greene County is part of the Southwest Region of University of Missouri Extension

Greene County University of Missouri Extension

Questions? Please contact --
burtond@missouri.edu
Updated 04/09/08