“Elgin Symphony Orchestra music director Andrew Grams compared the ESO’s spring financial woes to a ‘mini heart attack,’ but the organization has recovered and is ready for its first concerts of the 2018-2019 season later this month,” writes Mike Danahey in Wednesday’s (9/5) Elgin Courier-News (IL). “In March … Grams made a plea from the podium … letting the audience know the symphony needed an influx of funding…. After Grams made his appeal … donors gave more than the $140,000 required to cover the May 5-6 performance costs. ESO CEO Dave Bearden said, … ‘All told, personal giving was up 85 percent.’ … Over the summer the symphony found at least one new corporate sponsor…. An online fundraising campaign set up through CrowdRise has brought in about $33,000…. ESO Marketing Director Diane Handler said the symphony has set up a way for people to text donations…. The ESO’s annual budget has been around $2.2 million, so it needs to raise $1.4 million to $1.5 million annually from donations and other sources…. ESO officials are hopeful it can raise enough money to create a reserve account of $250,000-$500,000 to serve as a shock absorber, Bearden said, then create a foundation.”
Posted September 5, 2018
