The Garrett College Foundation’s Performing Arts Center endowment campaign is closing after raising over $1 million more than its initial goal.
To date, the campaign has raised over $3.5 million two years after setting a $2.5 million goal. The endowment is already supporting operations of the Performing Arts Center at Garrett College, which celebrated its official grand opening on December 3rd.
Cherie Krug, executive director of the Garrett College Foundation, noted the broad-based support the campaign has received.
“To date, 214 donors have contributed to the campaign, with many of them making multiple gifts,” said Krug. “That includes 20 gifts of $1,000 or more, which are recognized on our donor wall in the PAC lobby.
“The campaign attracted 20 named gifts,” added Krug, “including an anonymous $1 million estate gift that will ultimately provide the PAC’s name, and a $500,000 gift from the Daniel E. Offutt III Trust to name the PAC theatre.”
The PAC theatre seat-naming campaign provided an opportunity for individuals to participate in the campaign with much smaller financial commitments. Donors could name a seat for either $250 or $500, with Garrett College employees offered seat-naming opportunities for $100.
“Our goal was to ensure that everyone who wanted to participate in the campaign had the ability to do so,” said Krug, who credited Foundation Office staff members Kearstin Hinebaugh and Janet Kepple with proposing the seat-naming campaign that so far has resulted in 178 named seats. “This was a perfect way to make this a broad-based, inclusive campaign.”
Carissa Rodeheaver, chair of the Garrett College Foundation Board of Directors, said the Board “is overwhelmed by the positive response from our community in supporting the Performing Arts Center.
“The PAC is such a welcomed and needed addition to Garrett County,” added Rodeheaver. “We’re appreciative of all the community members and businesses who have generously supported our capital campaign.”
Rodeheaver, who succeeded Susie Crawford as GCF board chair last June, emphasized the role Crawford played in consecutive capital campaigns.
“Susie led the Board through two successful capital campaigns over the past five years,” said Rodeheaver, noting the STEM campaign that preceded the PAC initiative raised nearly $2.4 million.
Rodeheaver praised the leadership role Krug has played in the PAC campaign.
“Cherie was critical to maintaining communication with our donors and representing their interests throughout the campaign,” said Rodeheaver. “She and her team – Kearstin Hinebaugh and Janet Kepple – are impressive assets to the Foundation and were instrumental in conducting donor outreach.”
Dr. Richard Midcap, Garrett College’s president, also praised the GCF Office for the design and execution of the PAC campaign.
“This campaign was eight years in development,” said Midcap, noting a 2014 major gift toward performing arts that moved the performing arts center up in the College’s Facilities Master Plan. That, in turn, led to the Foundation forming a fundraising committee to spearhead the effort.
Midcap said the timing of the PAC campaign made the outcome all the more impressive.
“Even launching the campaign during COVID, I was confident that Cherie, Kearstin, Janet and the Foundation Board were committed to achieving a record-breaking campaign,” he said.
Midcap said the PAC endowment campaign “will ensure we have the fiscal resources to operate this beautiful, state-of-the-art center that we are so fortunate to have on our campus.
“I’m so grateful to the Foundation Office and the Foundation’s Board of Directors for their commitment to this campaign,” added Midcap. “I also appreciate the incredible generosity and support our College staff provided to this initiative. Everyone involved in this campaign has helped secure the future of performing arts in Garrett County.”
While the campaign is officially closing, PAC gifts are still being accepted. Anyone interested in making a PAC gift should contact Krug (cherie.krug@garrettcollege.edu or 301-387-3100).
