Press Releases
 

Virginia Living Museum receives $6 million challenge grant
May 28, 2009  

The 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 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.”

If the museum raises $3 million in cash, it will be debt free by the end of 2009.

The museum can also use future pledges as collateral to finance whatever remains of the $3 million cash needed to take advantage of the 2 to 1 matching gift.

“The museum has already received $1.7 million in cash and pledges,” said Joe Witt, president of the Board of Trustees. “We’re thrilled that members of our Board of Trustees and community leaders have gotten us more than half way to our goal.”

The museum is holding lunches on Wednesdays in June to explain the opportunities presented by the challenge grant. Please call Karen House at 757-534-7408 to make a reservation.

The Virginia Living Museum is a private non-profit museum and educational facility that has been in operation since 1966. It was recently accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, becoming the 12th institution in the country to be accredited by both AZA and the American Association of Museums.

The museum is located at 524 J. Clyde Morris Blvd., Newport News. For information, call 757-595-1900 or visit www.thevlm.org

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