2nd Century Fund News

10% of Ferry Beach Community
Gives more than One Million Dollars!

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN REPORT to 2008 ANNUAL MEETING

AUGUST 31, 2008 
FERRY BEACH PARK ASSOCIATION

At this amazing moment we stand on a threshold of time between many Ferry Beach generations.  Fresh from birth we welcome a precious son, Joaquin Paolo Atalloh, and a new generation, and nigh unto death we mourn the loss of a beloved Ferry Beach leader and mentor, David Young.  And today we mark a milestone on our Capital Campaign journey, exceeding our minimum financial goal for the 2^nd Century Fund.  A year ago we launched the Capital Campaign celebrating 30 pledges for a total of $502,000 toward our goal.  At this moment let us celebrate the 340 donors who have brought us to the $1, 016,000 marker. 

A year ago we talked about campus problems (dune erosion, kitchen sinking into the ground, Rowland Hall bunk head-banging, chairs in chapel), about valiant attempts to-date to meet big challenges, and about tough economic times.  But Ferry Beach leaders who were inspired by the Ferry Beach mission took on the risk of a Capital Campaign and took a leap of faith with the Ferry Beach community to ensure the future of our 107 year-old Ferry Beach home.

Today we look back in gratitude to the visionary Ferry Beach Board and the year-long Financial Feasibility Study conducted by an excellent UUA consultant, to the passionate and skillful Ferry Beach staff, and to the Capital Campaign Core Leadership Team whose members include :

Barbara and Bill DeWolfe, Honorary Co-Chairpersons
Wendy von Zirpolo, Board president
Craig Lentz, Executive Director
Sandy Hopkins, Gifts Chair and the Youth Gifts Team
Gary Adams, Communications Chair
Carol Hayden and Nancy Knights, Events Co-Chairs
Gail Forsyth-Vail, Partnership Chair
Hilary Green, Records and Database
Ann Nozawa, Summer Stewardship Coordinator

We also celebrate the loving tenacity of all the summer conference captains and stewards.  And most of all we celebrate the Capital Campaign donors and pledgers of all ages who contributed time, talent and money to this significant endeavor to ensure the future of our Ferry Beach home for many generations to come.

We’d like to share a few of the stories we heard this summer.  There was an elderly couple from the Midwest who had been coming to Ferry Beach for the past 20 years but because of ill health couldn’t make the trip this summer yet sent in their check for $1,500 (usual cost of their trip). And there was a young sister and brother, 10 and 12 years old, who receive a weekly allowance from their parents and decided to give their annual increase to the Capital Campaign for a total donation of $104. There was a Ferry Beach crew member who gave all her summer wages to the Capital Campaign. And last Spring there was a woman who had sold some property and was planning to leave a provision in her will to give the proceeds to Ferry Beach but thought why not now? and donated the whole amount to the 2^nd Century Fund.  Gifts of all sizes and shapes are honored and appreciated!

We celebrate the outstanding generosity of three major family gifts and the naming privileges accompanying their contributions: the Blanche Rowland Kitchen thanks to a gift from Fayre Stephenson, the Metz Family Staff Village thanks to a collective gift from the Metz-Munroe families, and the DeWolfe Dining Facility thanks to a legacy gift from Barbara and Bill DeWolfe.  There is a festive Groundbreaking Ceremony to mark the beginning of the building phase of these new structures.  See companion article.

Because we achieved our minimum goal, we announce new goals for the coming year: fuller participation and $1.2 million in pledges.  When we reach the new financial goal, we will be able to stay ahead of the rising building costs and to purchase better, greener materials as well as quality furnishings and equipment.  We appeal to each member and every donor to reach out to the remaining 90% in our Ferry Beach community who have yet to contribute and seek their participation in the success of the 2^nd Century Fund and ongoing stewardship of our beloved home.

This was a transformative year for everyone in the Ferry Beach community!  Amazing conversations about the abiding love for our Ferry Beach home, the spiritual growth, empowerment and healing that happen every year, and the inclusive community that works for justice took place in many ways.  Our language changed from fundraising to stewardship, from duty to joy of giving.  We empathize with Quillen Shinn and his 14 pioneers with their conquest over doubts and fears.  We relate to the legacy of that generation and the call of future generations with the imperatives of our Universalist love.  And the mysterious process celebrates this giving: the giver, gift and receiver, all are one!

In faith and appreciation,

Pat                       Brad

Pat Hoertdoerfer and Brad Cohen
2^nd Century Fund Capital Campaign Co-chairpersons