The Friends of V.I. National Park launched its annual matching gift campaign last Thursday, and thanks to help from an anonymous donor, any donations made by Dec. 31, will be matched. For example, a $25 gift doubles to $50. A $50 donation becomes $100.
“Last year, we raised over $34,000 with this matching campaign,” Friends development director Heather Ruhsam said.
This year’s goal is $40,000.
In other Friends fundraising news, the group announced that its third annual Online Auction generated over $30,000 this year, which met their goal. The auction ended Dec. 11.
“Once again, response from donors was amazing. We started the auction on Nov. 18, with about 40 items, and by the end had 53, 52 of which sold. Our bidders had a lot of great items to choose from, and it shows in our numbers, which exceeded last year,” Ruhsam said.
She also added the move to separate the auction from the annual Gala proved to be a good one. Ruhsam said the Friends will continue to hold the online auction around the same time in years to come, giving holiday shoppers and vacation seekers a great opportunity to find something unique, and do some good at the same time.
The Gala will be held Feb. 4, 2012, and hosted by Judy and Michael Skurnik at their home, Marea, on Ditleff Point. The Gala raffle includes an original R&I Patton gold set. The 18-karat gold chain with 6.6-carat emerald nugget necklace and earrings is valued at $4,200. Tickets are $50. They will be limited to 100, and can be purchased at the Friends of the Park Store beginning Dec. 20.
Money raised through these fundraising efforts helps pay the Friends’ operation and program expenses.
Matching gifts can be made at www.friendsvinp.org or sent to Box 811, St. John, VI 00831.
For more information, call the Friends at 779-4940.