River Arts Needed a Home

At the 1999 community forum hosted and inspired by the Orton Foundation, folks voiced the need for a community arts center. From our first workshops in 2000 to the present, River Arts programming has been conducted in schools, churches, senior centers, and other community spaces. Since 2001, our office has been located in spaces donated by generous local businesses. Our community needed more space for art classes, small performances and events, and meetings and River Arts needed a permanent downtown location for our office.

The River Arts Center

To fulfill our mandate to create a community arts center, River Arts purchased the Lamoille Grange building (and original Peoples Academy) on Pleasant Street in downtown Morrisville in 2005. The River Arts Center will be a place for community members of all ages, backgrounds, talents, and means to explore their creativity and engage with each other. Arts classes for all ages will be held throughout the day. The building will serve as a home base for our youth summer camps and after school classes. Children’s furniture and equipment will welcome young children to explore the arts. The classrooms and art materials will be available to all during open studio hours. Concerts, poetry readings, dance classes, and special events will take place in the upstairs performance space. The kitchen will be used for cooking classes, to prepare snacks for children’s programs and special events, and for pot luck suppers. The building is also be available for use by other community groups as the schedule allows.

Capital Campaign

Thank you for considering a gift to the River Arts Center Capital Campaign. Your gift will help complete the renovation of the original Peoples Academy and former Lamoille Grange to create the new River Arts Center. There are many ways to get involved!

We continue to seek the support of our community to help complete the renovations and establish an endowment. Approximately $720,213 in public and private funds has been raised to meet our total project goal of $988,000. Of that number, $553,663 has been raised from individuals who have played a major role in making this community dream a reality. It is only through the generosity, vision and leadership of community members like you that we will be able to finish the renovations and provide River Arts with a home and a base for our region-wide programming.

Ways to Contribute

Your gift of any size is very important to us.

Gifts and pledges may be tailored to help you accomplish your goals and meet your interests.

To learn more about any of these giving options, please see below or contact Lauren Philie, River Arts Development Director, at 802-888-1261 or send an inquiry to Lauren.

Direct Contributions

Pledges

Matching Gift Program

Stocks/Securities

Leave a Legacy

Direct Contributions

Your gift of cash is the easiest and most direct means of support.

A single or sustaining donation may be made by credit card online or by check payable to River Arts of Morrisville.

Please mail checks or credit card information to River Arts Capital Campaign, PO Box 829, Morrisville, VT, 05661.

Your donation is fully tax-deductible to the extent permitted by the law.

Pledges

If you would like to make a gift to the River Arts Center Capital Campaign, but are unable to make a full direct cash donation at this time, you may consider making a pledge to the campaign now, then have your payments and tax deductions distributed over the next two years.

You may select your frequency of giving by designating a monthly, quarterly, or annual donation.

This giving method provides donors with an opportunity to achieve their giving goals over time.

Please contact us if you are interested in spreading your gift over time.

Matching Gift Program

Many companies will match employee and retiree contributions to non-profit organizations like River Arts.

You may be able to double the impact of your gift by contacting your company’s human resources department to obtain a matching gift form.

Please enclose the appropriate form with your donation. We will do the rest.

Stocks/Securities

Gifts of stocks/securities are gratefully received.

This is a popular way to give particularly because a gift of appreciated stock or mutual funds is tax deductible at full fair market value at the time of the gift with no capital gains tax. Most donors find this is a way to make a more generous gift than might be possible otherwise.

Leave a Legacy

A planned gift to River Arts is one very important and effective way you can help support our mission to enrich the community through the arts for generations to come.

It is possible to accomplish your financial goals, provide for your family, and support organizations you care deeply about. Everyone can benefit from estate planning, regardless of economic status.

River Arts is a member of Leave a Legacy NH/VT, which makes your planned giving easier and more secure. Consult your attorney or financial advisor or visit www.leavealegacynhvt.org to understand your options and then contact River Arts.

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