The Blessing Ceremony in Pietrasanta , Italy
Statuary Fund Aimed High , Reached Even Higher
Before members of the Mary McLeod Bethune Statuary Fund gathered to kick off the campaign to raise money for the placement of a statue of the revered educator and civil rights icon in the U . S . Capitol , the goal to raise $ 400,000 might have seemed a tall order . But by the time the event on April 18 , 2018 , was over , Nancy Lohman already knew it would be a success .
“ It was a beautiful ceremony ,” said Lohman , president of the Statuary Fund . “ It ended up being as inspirational an event as I have ever attended .”
Lohman was not the only one inspired by the mission to make the dream of Bethune ’ s inclusion in the National Statuary Hall a reality . Eager donors stood up and opened their hearts and their checkbooks .
“ There was actually a receiving line of checks being presented to us ,” Lohman said . “ I think [ at ] that moment in time we raised $ 126,000 . It was incredible . I knew from the very beginning of our efforts that raising $ 400,000 would not be a heavy lift .”
In fact , the response to the campaign kickoff was so overwhelming , Statuary Fund board members decided to up the ante and set a higher fundraising goal for the creation of a second statue , a bronze likeness of the marble piece destined for Washington D . C ., to become part of the Riverfront Esplanade Park project on Beach Street .
“ Commissioning the bronze statue was an additional $ 150,000 that we agreed should be raised so that the city of Daytona Beach could celebrate Mary McLeod Bethune and champion efforts to showcase her extraordinary life ,” Lohman said .
But the fundraising effort didn ’ t stop there . Lohman said her board committed to raising another $ 150,000 to create a featurelength documentary and K-12 curriculum module highlighting the life and legacy of Dr . Bethune as told through the symbolism of the statue . They enthusiastically expanded their vision again with an additional $ 100,000 to host the statue in an exhibit in Daytona Beach prior to her placement in the U . S . Capitol . In total , they will raise more than $ 800,000 to provide the total scope of the statuary project .
Finding the time in her already busy schedule to take on the task of raising money for a project that hit close to home but would be realized far away was an easy choice for Lohman .
“ I feel that this is one of the best contributions I could ever make with my time ,” she said . “ It is a way I can help create an appreciation for the significance of Mary McLeod Bethune ’ s lifelong work as a remarkable civil rights leader and educator , and personally support our continued focus on moving social justice forward .”
Bob Lloyd , who serves as vice chairman of the Statuary Fund board , shares Lohman ’ s passion for the project .
“ This was a historic project that could not possibly fail ,” he said . “ Without state funding and with her namesake university struggling financially , the Mary McLeod Bethune statue project had its challenges . But the upside potential of giving this internationally respected leader , who called Daytona Beach home , a permanent place of recognition in the U . S . Capitol representing the State of Florida was easy to visualize .”
Lloyd said despite the challenge of fundraising in general he was confident the effort would succeed .
“ We live in a great community ,” he said . “ While our
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