In Tuesday’s (12/15) Charlotte Observer (North Carolina), Karen Garloch reports, “The struggling Charlotte Symphony is less than $100,000 away from meeting its year-end goal of raising $1.77 million to become financially stable. If it meets the goal, the symphony expects to get $900,000 from the Arts & Science Council, which had threatened to drastically cut the symphony’s annual grant because of questions about viability. ‘We are an eyelash away,’ executive director Jonathan Martin said, ‘and I’m confident that we’re going to get there.’… The symphony got a boost last week when Wells Fargo surprised many recession-battered charities and arts organizations in Charlotte with $6 million in gifts. Wells Fargo’s gift of $100,000 to the symphony will go toward its operating budget, not to the $1.77 million campaign, but Martin said the bank’s vote of confidence will stimulate other donations. Telephone solicitors seeking orchestra contributions say people answering their calls ‘are more receptive even in the past 48 hours,’ Martin said Thursday, the day after the Wells Fargo announcement.”
Posted December 15, 2009
