Virginia Living Museum gets $6 million challenge grant
Aug 25, 2009The Virginia Living Museum in Newport News has received an amazing opportunity to pay off the remaining $9 million debt from its 2000-2004 capital campaign that built the present 62,000 sq. ft. museum building. The museum financed part of the construction costs after committed state funding for the capital project never materialized.
An anonymous donor has offered an extraordinary matching gift. The donor has pledged $6 million if the museum can raise $3 million in cash and pledges by Dec. 31, 2009.
“This is a once in a lifetime chance to secure the museum’s future,” said Page Hayhurst, VLM executive director. “This gift is particularly amazing given the current economic situation and that it has been designated for retiring a debt that is a growing burden for the museum.”
As of July 30, the Opportunity Fund had secured $1.9 million in cash and pledges, leaving $1.1 million left to raise by Dec. 31, 2009 to receive the $6 million match.
The Virginia Living Museum is a private non-profit museum and educational facility that has been in operation since 1966.
The museum is located at 524 J. Clyde Morris Blvd., Newport News.
For information, call Carolyn Cuthrell at 757-534-7487or visit www.thevlm.org.
Media contact: Marketing Director, Virginia Gabriele, 757-534-7479, marketing@thevlm.org.
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